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ROBERT  O.  MORRIS. 


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AND     VICINITY. 


THE 

BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD 

AND  VICINITY 


BY 
ROBERT  O.  MORRIS 


Springfield,  Mass. 

PUBLISHED  BY  HENRY  R.  JOHNSON 
I90I 


LIBRARY 
UNIVERWTY  OF  CALIFORMIA. 


PRESS   OF   C.    R.    KAPI.INGER, 
SPRINGFIKLD,    MASS. 


The  Birds  of  Springfield  and  Vicinity. 

The  Hydrographic  valley  of  the  Connecticut  at  Spring- 
field is  about  sixty  miles  wide,  and  the  river  here  is  somewhat 
east  of  the  center  of  the  basin.  The  State  of  Connecticut  lies 
three  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Springfield,  the  town  of  Long- 
meadow  interv-ening.  Thirteen  miles  to  the  west,  a  mountain 
range  rises  abruptly  from  the  level  land  at  Westfield,  continuing 
be3'ond  to  the  Housatonic  Valley,  forming  a  portion  of  the  so- 
called  Berkshire  hills,  and  running  north  until  it  joins  the 
Green  mountains  in  Vermont.  The  highest  point  of  this  range 
in  Hampden  County  is  "Round  Top"  in  Chester,  which 
reaches  an  altitude  of  1800  feet.  About  ten  miles  to  the  east 
of  Sprirgfield  lies  a  range  of  considerably  less  height,  which  is 
locally  called  the  "  Wilbraham^  Hills,"  and  extends  north  to 
New  Hampshire,  where  it  merges  into  the  White  mountain 
range.  Five  miles  to  the  west  of  Springfield  is  a  series  of 
Hills,  400  to  900  feet  in  height,  of  trap  rock  formation, 
which  continues  up  the  valley  and  crosses  the  river,  south  of 
the  greater  part  of  Northampton.  Here  the  hills  are  higher, 
Mount  Tom  and  Nonotuck  on  the  west  side,  and  Holyoke  on 
the  east,  reaching  an  altitude  of  about  1200  feet. 

The  Connecticut  River  at  Springfield  is  but  forty  feet 
above  tide  water,  and  except  in  time  of  freshet,  is  a  sluggish 
stream,  averaging  about  1200  feet  in  width.  The  important 
branches  in  this  vicinity  are  the  Chicopee,  Mill  and  Scantic 
Rivers,  that  enter  from  the  east,  and  Westfield  and  Farmington 
Rivers,  that  come  from  the  west,  and  the  largest  natural  land- 
locked body  of  water  is  Lake  Congamond  in  South  wick,  which 
covers  about  410  acres.  In  nearly  all  the  towns  there  are 
small  ponds,  both  natural  and  artificial. 

The  land  of  the  river  towns  is  sparsely  timbered,  being 
mostly  under  cultivation.  The  mountain  regions  east  and  west 
of  the  river  are  heavily  timbered,  chiefly  with  deciduous  trees, 
consisting  principally  of  chestnut,  white  oak,  gray  birch, 
sugar    maple,  with   a   sprinkling    of    white  pines   and   hem- 


4  THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY. 

locks,  and  on  the  east  side  the  pitch  pines  are  quite  numerous. 
Along  the  streams  may  be  seen  the  willows,  elms,  red  and 
w^hite  maples,  river  poplars,  alders,  pin  oaks,  and  button- 
woods.  In  Russell  and  Montgomery  there  is  quite  a  growth  of 
tulip  trees  ;  on  the  trap  rock  range  the  red  cedars  are  common, 
and  here  and  there  in  the  valley  can  be  found  black  and  red 
oak,  sassafras,  black  and  paper  birch,  and  many  other  kinds 
not  generally  common  ;  on  the  hills  to  the  west  of  Westfield 
there  is  an  immense  growth  of  mountain  laurel,  and  considerable 
is  found  on  the  Wilbraham  hills,  and  a  little  in  the  river  towns. 
One  of  the  great  attractions  to  bird  life  near  Springfield  in 
late  Summer  and  Autumn,  particularly  to  the  water  birds,  lies 
in  the  wild  rice,  Zizania  aquatica,  that  grows  so  profusely  along 
the  banks  of  the  Connecticut  river.  About  twenty  years  ago 
many  bushels  of  the  seed  of  this  plant  was  brought  from  Wis- 
consin and  Canada  and  scattered  along  the  shores  of  the  Con- 
necticut, and  in  some  of  the  ponds  ;  in  all  the  latter  the  attempt 
to  introduce  proved  a  failure  ;  whether  the  large  quantity  that 
now  grows  along  the  banks  and  in  the  river  is  due  to  the  seed 
that  was  so  distributed,  it  is  pretty  hard  to  say.  Prior  to  I878 
there  was  quite  a  little  growing  here,  as  had  always  been  the 
case  down  the  river  towards  the  Sound  ;  about  that  time  the 
dam  across  the  Connecticut  at  Enfield,  ten  miles  below  Spring- 
field, was  raised,  which  decidedly  slackened  the  current  above, 
making  the  conditions  much  more  favorable  for  wald  rice  to 
thrive  ;  very  likely  the  rapidly  increasing  growth  here,  that 
began  just  about  that  time,  w^as  owing  to  that  fact  rather  than 
to  the  planting  of  the  seed;  anyway,  it  then  seemed  to  appear  on 
the  river  in  every  suitable  place,  whether  seeded  by  man  or  in 
other  ways.  Wild  celer>%  vallisneria  spiralis,  the  root  of  which 
is  a  favorite  food  of  some  of  the  duck  family,  is  common  here, 
both  in  the  river  and  ponds.  In  order  to  attract  some  of  the 
water  birds,  roots  and  seeds  of  this  plant  were  brought  here 
from  the  West  about  eighteen  years  ago  and  planted  in  the 
river,  and  it  was  successfully  propagated  in  both  ways;  which 
was  an  unnecessary  step,  as  there  was  plenty  of  it  here  before. 
Kotweed,  Polygonum  Amphibium,  arrow  head,  Sagittaria 
variabilis,    button    bush,     Cephalanthus    Occidentalism    ground 


THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIEIvD    AND   VICINITY.  5 

nut,  Apios  tiiberosa^  and  several  kinds  of  wild  grass,  all  grow 
along  the  river,  furnishing  food  for  various  kinds  of  surface 
feeding  ducks. 

With  all  the  reliable  text  books  on  New  England  birds,  a 
local  list  may  seem  to  many  uncalled  for,  but  we  sometimes 
find  bird  life  different  in  short  distances.  For  instance,  less  than 
fifty  miles  to  the  south  and  west  of  Springfield,  there  is  a  de- 
cided change  in  Summer  residents,  in  the  latter  direction 
undoubtedly  accounted  for  by  reason  of  variation  in  altitude, 
but  in  the  former  the  reason  is  not  so  apparent,  at  least  why 
the  difference  should  be  so  marked  in  so  short  a  distance  and 
with  practically  the  same  flora,  temperature,  and  altitude. 

To  well  know  the  bird  fauna  of  any  particular  section  of  the 
country,  observations  must  extend  over  a  series  of  years,  and 
this  is  particularly  true  of  the  water  birds  ;  man}'  of  them  are 
ver}'  irregular  in  their  appearance,  and  their  visits  here  are 
often  short,  owing  to  the  absence  of  their  favorite  food,  and  in 
late  years  to  the  persistent  manner  in  which  they  are  driven 
away.  An  obvServ^er  near  a  river  like  the  Connecticut,  and 
above  tide  water,  by  the  latter  part  of  Summer,  can  make 
some  reliable  calculations  as  to  the  probabilities  of  the  presence 
of  surface  feeding  ducks  in  the  river,  a  month  qr  two  later.  If 
the  rainfall  has  been  heavy  during  the  Summer,  and  the  river 
high,  the  vegetation  along  the  shore  wall  be  destroyed, 
or  only  have  a  stunted  growth;  thus  their  food  supply 
being  scarce,  if  they  stop  here  on  their  way  South,  they  soon 
pass  on.  When  the  Connecticut  river  is  high  and  roily  during 
the  time  of  their  migration,  none  of  the  sea  ducks  make  any 
lengthy  stay,  it  being  so  hard  for  them  to  find  their  food;  and 
few,  if  any,  of  the  so-called  shore  birds  stop  here  w^hen  such 
conditions  prevail.  In  this  list  I  have  indicated  the  authority 
for  the  occurrence  of  a  bird  here,  if  it  is  otherwise  than  from  my 
observation,  and  have  only  made  a  record  when  the  evidence 
was  conclusive.  I  do  not  treat  towns  more  than  tw^enty-five 
miles  distant  as  being  within  the  vicinity  of  Springfield.  The 
numbers  prefixed  to  the  names  of  the  birds  correspond  wnth 
those  used  in  the  check  list  adopted  by  the  American  Ornithol- 
ogist Union,  and  with  very  few  exceptions  are  those  found  in 
Chapman's  Hand-book  of  the  Birds  of  Eastern  North  America. 


6  THE    BIRDS   OK    SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY. 

2.  Colymbusholboellii  (Reinh.).  Holboell's  Grebe. 
Chiefly  an  uncommon  winter  visitor,  but  Dr.  J.  A.  .Allen 
records  its  capture  in  Springfield,  the  third  week  in  May,  in 
full  breeding  plumage.  The  specimen  in  the  Science  building, 
Springfield,  was  taken  alive  in  Otis  a  few  winters  ago  and  sent 
to  Forest  Park,  w^here  it  soon  died.  Two  have  been  taken  at 
Belchertown.      (See  Birds  of  Amherst,  page  45.  j 

3.  Colytnbus  auritus  I^inn.  Horned  Grebe.  Some 
autumns  the  young  of  this  species  are  quite  common  and  I 
have  seen  them  in  small  flocks;  the  adults  are  rarely  here. 
Their  food  usually  consists  of  frogs,  small  fish  and  aquatic 
insects,  but  some  years  ago,  while  attracting  wild  ducks  by 
baiting  with  corn,  I  found  that  one  of  these  grebes  had  devel- 
oped a  decided  taste  for  this  grain,  and  when  taken  its  craw 
was  filled  wdth  it.  A  pair  w^ere  killed  here  in  full  breeding 
plumage  about  June  i.  (See  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  Found 
at  Springfield.) 

6.  Podilymbus  podiceps  (I/inn.).  Pied-billed 
Grebe.  A  rare  summer  resident  and  a  common  spring  and 
autumn  visitor. 

7.  Gavia  imber  (Gunn.).  Loon.  A  not  uncommon 
spring  and  fall  visitor;  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reports  it  as  breeding 
here  occasionally,  but  that  was  nearly  forty  years  ago.  I  have 
not  known  of  its  presence  here  in  summer  for  a  long  time. 

II.  Gavia  lumme  (Gunn.).  Red-throated  Loon. 
Rare  spring  and  fall  visitor. 

31.  TJria  lomvia  (I/inn.).  Brunnich's  Murre.  For 
some  unknown  cause,  during  the  last  five  or  six  years,  repre- 
sentatives of  tiiis  species  have  paid  us  a  number  of  visits; 
previous  to  that  time  there  appears  to  be  no  record  of  its 
capture  here,  and  now  it  is  far  from  being  common.  I  took 
one  November  30,  1899,  and  the  same  day  one  was  shot  in 
Berkshire  county.     (See  Birds  of  Berkshire  County,  page  53.) 


THE    BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND    VICINITY.  7 

34.  Alle  alle  (Xinn.).  Dovekie.  Accidental  winter 
visitor,  but  has  been  taken  here  on  several  occasions,  supposed 
to  have  been  driven  from  the  coast  by  a  storm.  In  the  Cata- 
logue of  the  Birds  of  Springfield,  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reports  its 
capture  at  Greenfield,  and  in  his  revised  list  of  birds  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, at  Springfield.  (For  report  of  its  occurrence  at 
Belchertown,  see  Birds  of  Amherst,  page  45.)  In  the  Bulletin 
of  Massachusetts  Natural  History,  published  at  Amherst  for 
June  and  July,  1884,  it  is  stated  that:  "In  1872  a  large  number 
of  these  birds  were  secured  in  and  about  Belchertown  pond,  not 
far  from  here,  %vhere  they  were  cast  by  a  severe  coavSt  storm." 

51.  I/arus  argentatus  Brunn.  Herring  Gull.  Com- 
mon winter  visitant;  when  the  Connecticut  is  free  from  ice,  a 
few  usually  fly  slowly  up  the  river  during  the  forenoon,  search- 
ing for  food,  and  there  is  a  return  flight  in  the  afternoon.  On 
several  occasions,  during  open  .  winters,  I  have  found  them 
quite  numerous  here. 

60.  I/arus  Philadelphia  (Ord).  Bonaparte's  Gull. 
Rare  visitor;  July  31,  1893,  three  appeared  on  the  river  near 
Springfield,  one  of  which  was  captured.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  stated 
that  they  were  occasionally-  observed  here. 

70.  Sterna  hirundo  ly inn.  Common  Tern.  Very  rare; 
one  was  taken  in  Longmeadow,  September,  1878,  the  only 
instance  that  I  have  known  of  its  presence  here. 

80.  Rynchops  nigra  lyinn.  Black  Skimmer.  Acci- 
dental visitor;  after  a  very  severe  gale  that  prevailed  the  last  of 
August,  1893,  one  w-as  taken  in  West  Springfield. 

106.  Oceanodroma  leucorhoa  (VieilL).  Leach's 
Petrel.  Very  rare  visitor;  in  late  years,  I  have  known  of  its 
capture  here  but  three  times;  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  stated  that  it  had 
been  taken  here  in  a  few^  instances.  In  an  address  delivered  at 
Springfield,  on  the  occasion  of  the  opening  of  the  railroad  to 
Boston,  a  little  over  sixty  years  ago.  Gov.  Edward  Everett,  on 


8  THE    BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFlKIvD   AND   VICINITY. 

the  authority  of  Rev.  W.  B.  O.  Peabody,  referred  to  a  recent 
visit  of  this  "  Httle  sea  bird  "  to  this  region,  which  he  regarded 
as  a  good  omen.  The  specimen  in  the  Science  building, 
Springfield,  w^as  caught  by  a  cat,  in  a  meadow  close  by  the 
Connecticut  river,  in  Agawam,  September  20,  1900. 

120.  Phalacrocorax  dilophus  (Swain.).  Double- 
CRKSTED  Cormorant.  During  the  years  1887  and  1888,  a 
number  were  seen  here  in  small  flocks,  and  several  were  taken, 
but  with  the  exception  of  these  two  years  it  has  appeared  here 
only  as  a  rare  visitor. 

129.  Merganser  americanus  (Cass.).  American 
Merganser.  On  the  Connecticut  river  and  its  tributaries 
this  is  the  most  abundant  of  the  duck  family,  from  November 
15  until  May  i ;  occa.sionally  it  is  found  on  the  large  ponds,  and 
I  have  observed  it  here  repeatedly  in  mid-summer,  but  have  no 
further  evidence  of  its  breeding.  One  summer,  I  saw  one  here 
in  company  with  a  blue-winged  teal.  During  the  very  cold 
winters,  these  mergansers  assemble  in  large  numbers  on  the 
Connecticut,  in  the  rapid  water  jUvSt  below  the  Enfield  dam. 

130.  Merganser  serrator  (I/inn. ).  Red-breasted 
Merganser.  Mr.  K.  O.  Damon  has  taken  one  specimen  in 
Northampton,  and  I  have  done  the  same  near  Springfield;  with 
these  exceptions,  I  have  never  knowm  of  its  presence  here. 

131.  I/Ophodytes  cucullatus  (I/inn.).  Hooded  Mer- 
ganser. A  common  late  autumn  migrant;  I  have  not  observed 
it  here  at  other  seasons,  but  it  undoubtedly  may  be  found 
occasionally  in  early  spring. 

132.  Anas  Boschas  I/inn.  Mallard.  Rather  common 
autumn  visitor,  arriving  about  the  first  of  November;  I  have 
taken  it  here  in  the  spring,  but  it  is  rare  at  that  season. 
Usually  it  may  be  found  associating  with  Aiias  obscura,  but 
one  year  wathin  my  experience  the  mallards  appeared  in  larger 
numbers  than  the  black  ducks,  and  they  then  flocked  by  them- 


THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY.  9 

vSelves.  They  are  apparently  very  fond  of  corn,  and  when 
"  baited  "  on  that  grain,  are  loth  to  proceed  on  their  journey. 

133.  Anas  Obscura  Gmel.  Black  Duck.  Abundant 
in  spring  and  autumn;  a  few  spend  the  winter  with  us,  and 
can  usually  be  found  in  the  vicinity  of  the  south  branch  of 
Mill  river,  in  Hampden  and  Wilbraham,  from  December  until 
March.  As  the  ice  closes  the  ponds  and  forms  along  the  banks 
of  the  Connecticut  river,  the  great  body  retire,  and,  even  if  the 
winter  is  open,  do  not  return  until  vSpring.  A  few  breed  regu- 
larly in  the  ponds  in  the  western  part  of  this  section  and  rarely 
in  the  river  towns.  In  July  of  1898,  a  brood  nearly  grown 
appeared  in  Forest  Park  in  Springfield,  and  associated  and  fed 
with  the  domestic  ducks  there,  and  becoming  quite  tame  they 
were  finally  captured  alive  and  taken  into  winter  quarters;  a 
few  of  them  still  remain  in  the  park. 

135.     Chaulelasmus    strepera    (I/inn.).       Gadwall. 

Accidental  visitor;  there  are  two  specimens  in  the  Museum  in 
Springfield,  that  were  taken  here  many  years  ago.  (See  Cata- 
logue of  the  Birds  Found  in  Springfield.) 

137.  Mareca  americana  (Gmel.).  Baldpate.  A 
not  very  common,  but  regular  spring  and  fall  visitant;  in  the 
autumn  of  1884,  they  were  fairly  abundant  here. 

139.  Nettion  carolinensis  (Gmel.).     Green-winged 

Teal.  A  not  uncommon  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  but  less 
numerous  than  the  Blue- winged  Teal. 

140.  Querquedula  discors  (Xinn.).  Blue- winged 
Teal.  A  common  autumn  but  a  rare  spring  visitor;  in  the 
fall  of  1885,  it  was  abundant.  I  have  seen  it  here  repeat- 
edly in  mid-summer,  and  once  I  observed  a  flock  in  the  river 
about  the  twentieth  of  August.  One  of  the  specimens  in  the 
Museum  at  Springfield  was  taken  here  the  last  day  of  May;  I 
have  no  further  evidence  of  their  breeding  here,  but  there  is  no 
doubt  that  at  one  time  they  did. 


10  THE   BIRDS   OF    SPRINGFIET.D    AND   VICINITY. 

142.  Spatula  clypeata  (nyinn.).  Shoveller.  An 
accidental  visitant;  the  specimen  in  the  Museum  in  Spring- 
field was  captured  by  William  C.  Pease,  in  Longmeadow.  It 
has  been  taken  once  or  twice  near  Northampton.  (See  Birds 
in  Amherst,  page  46.) 

143.  Dafila  acuta  (I/inn.).  Pintail.  A  common 
autumn  visitant  but  rare  in  spring.  This  is  the  second  migrant 
of  the  ducks  to  appear  in  the  autunni,  coming  about  two  weeks 
later  than  the  Blue-winged  Teal;  I  have  taken  it  here  as  early 
as  the  seventeenth  of  September.  For  a  few  weeks  in  1S91  it 
was  abundant  on  the  river. 

144.  Aix  sponsa  (I/inn.).  Wood  Duck.  Common 
summer  resident;  until  within  a  few  years,  one  or  two  pairs 
bred  regularly  in  Forest  Park. 

146.  Aythya  americana  (^yt. ).  Red-head.  Rare 
autumn  visitor  and  probably  here  occasionally  in  the  spring. 
I  have  seen  them  on  the  river  in  large  flocks,  but  that  is 
unusual. 

148.  Aythya  mar ila  (I/inn.).  American  Scaup  Duck. 
Uncommon  autumn  visitor;  I  have  never  known  of  their  being 
here  in  any  great  numbers. 

149.  Aythya  affinis  (Kyt.).  Lesser  Scaup  Duck. 
Rare  spring  and  common  autumn  visitor,  arriving  here  about 
the  middle  of  October.  There  are  plenty  of  pond  snails 
Limncea  Megastoma  here,  which  appear  to  be  their  favorite  food, 
and  when  the  Connecticut  river  is  not  high  and  roily  they  can 
obtain  all  they  want  without  much  exertion.  I  have  seen  five 
hundred  of  them  on  the  river  at  once;  they  would  make  us 
long  visits  but  for  the  practice  of  shooters  of  chasing  them  with 
boats,  which  very  soon  results  in  their  being  driven  from  this 
vicinity.  The  late  Dr.  Wood  of  East  Windsor  Hill  has  taken 
them  there  in  the  spring,  but  they  are  rare  at  that  season. 

150.  Aythya  coUaris  (Donov.).  Ring-necked  Duck. 
A  rare  autumn  visitor. 


THK    BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIRI^D   AND    VICINITY.  11 

151.  Clangula  clangula  americana  Bonap.  Ameri- 
can Golden-eye.  Abundant  spring  and  autumn  visitor  and 
occasionally  here  during  open  winters. 

153.  Charitonetta  albeola  (I/inn.).  Buffle-head. 
Not  uncommon  in  early  spring  and  late  autumn.  Once  in 
September  I  found  a  flock  of  ten  or  a  dozen  on  the  river,  near 
Springfield,  that  were  evidently  young;  they  permitted  a  boat 
to  be  rowed  within  easy  shooting  distance,  and  after  being  fired 
at  once,  when  several  were  killed,  they  only  flew  a  short  dis- 
tance and  then  waited  until  the  boat  again  approached,  when 
a  number  more  were  shot. 

154.  Hareldahyemalis  (I/inn.).  Old  Squaw.  Rather 
rare  spring  and  autumn  visitor.     I  have  seen  small  flocks  here. 

165.  Oidemia  deglandi  Bonap.  White- Winged 
Scoter;  Rare;  Dr.  William  Wood  captured  two  at. East 
Windsor  Hill.  (See  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen's  Catalogue  of  the  Birds 
of  Springfield.) 

166.  Oidemia  perspicillata  (I/inn.).  Surf  Scoter. 
October  23,  1886,  I  captured  one  on  the  river  in  Longmeadow, 
which  is  the  only  occasion  that  I  have  known  an  individual  of 
this  kind  to  visit  us;  but  my  impression  is  that  this  species,  as 
well  as  all  the  other  sea  ducks  so  common  on  Long  Island 
Sound,  are  occasionally  represented  here. 

167.  Brismatura  jamaicensis  (Gmel.).  Ruddy 
Duck.  During  the  autumn  of  1885,  this  duck  was  common 
on  the  waters  in  the  vicinity  of  Springfield,  but  with  the  ex- 
ception of  this  season,  it  has  been  during  the  past  twenty  years 
a  rare  spring  and  fall  visitor. 

169.  (a)  Chen  hyperborea  nivalis  (Forst. ).  Greater 
Snow  Goo.se.  Rare  or  accidental  visitor  ;  one  was  wounded 
and  captured  near  Springfield  a  number  of  \'ears  ago,  and 
turned  loose  with  a  flock  of  domestic  geese  in  South  wick,  with 


12  THE   BIRDS   OF  SPRINGFlEIvD   AND   VICINITY. 

which  it  remained  for  several  years.     In  the  spring  of   1887,  I 
saw  one  in  Longmeadow\ 

172.  Branta  canadensis  (I/inn.).  Canada  Goose. 
Common  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

173.  Branta  bernicla  (I/inn.).  Brant.  One  was 
shot  on  the  Connecticut  river  above  Hartford,  in  the  spring  of 
1876.  (See  Merriam's  Birds  of  Connecticut,  page  121.)  Dr 
Allen,  in  the  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of  Springfield,  gives  it  as 
"  not  common." 

190.  Botaurus  lentiginosus  (Montag.).  Ameri- 
can Bittern.     Common  summer  resident. 

191.  Ardetta  exilis  (Gmel.).  Least  Bittern.  Rare; 
Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reports  the  taking  of  one  by  C.  W.  Bennett  ; 
E.  O.  Damon  shot  one  at  Northampton,  and  I  captured  one  in 
Longmeadow  September  i,  1895.  As  to  its  presence  in  Suf- 
field,  see  Merriam's  Birds  of  Connecticut,  page  113. 

194.  Ardea  herodias  I/inn.  Great  Blue  Heron. 
Transient  visitor  from  April  until  November,  except  that  it  is 
generally  absent  during  the  months  of  June  and  July  ;  it  may 
breed  here  occasionally. 

196.  Ardea  egretta  Gmel.  American  Egret.  Rare 
visitor  from  the  South  ;  one  was  seen  in  Forest  Park,  Spring- 
field, on  several  occasions  during  the  summer  of  1897.  A 
vSpecimen  was  taken  in  North  Hadley,  in  AugUvSt,  1883,  (see 
Birds  of  Amhenst,  page  46,)  and  it  has  been  reported  as  having 
been  seen  by  various  reliable  observers,  within  twenty  miles  of 
Springfield,  but  not  during  the  past  fifteen  years. 

197.  Ardea  candidissima  Gmel.  Snow  Heron.  Ac- 
cidental visitor  ;  the  specimen  in  the  Museum  of  Natural  His- 
tory, Springfield,  was  taken  by  Mr.  E.  O.  Damon  at 
Northampton,  and  this  is  the  only  instance  known  to  me  of  its 
presence  here. 


THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIEI.D   AND   VICINITY.  13 

201.  Ardea  virescens  I/inn.  Green  Heron.  Abund- 
ant summer  resident. 

202.  Nycticorax      nycticorax      naevius       (Bodd.). 

Black-Crowned  Night  Heron.     Common  summer  resident. 

208.  Rallus  elegans  Aud.  King  Rail.  Accidental 
visitor;  a  specimen  was  taken  by  William  C.  Pease  in  Long- 
meadow,  October  19,  1895  ;  this  is  the  only  record  of  its 
occurrence  here.      (See  The  Auk,  vol.  13,  page  86.) 

211.  Rallus  crepitans  Gmel.  Clapper  Rail.  Ac- 
cidental vi.sitor  ;  one  was  taken  in  the  Hadley  Meadows,  and 
Mr.  E.  O.  Damon  captured  one  at  Northampton. 

212.  Rallus  virginianus  I/inn.  Virginia  Rail.  A 
common  summer  resident  ;  this  and  the  following  species  are 
more  numerous  here  in  summer  than  is  generally  believed.  I 
know  of  a  man  who  used  to  tie  up  his  dog,  that  was  trained  to 
hunt  rails,  to  prevent  his  catching  the  young  birds  that  he 
could  find  in  any  suitable  breeding  place. 

214.  Peruana  Carolina  (I/inn.).  Sora.  A  common 
summer  resident,  often  becoming  abundant  during  early 
autumn . 

215.  Peruana  noveboracensis  (Gmel.).  Yellow 
Rail.  Rare  visitor.  I  captured  one  in  Longmeadow,  Octo- 
ber 16,  1894  ;  it  has  also  been  taken  at  Northampton  (see 
Birds  of  Amherst,  page  47). 

216.  Por^jana  jamaicensis  (Gmel.).  Black  Rail. 
A  number  of  j^ears  ago,  Mr.  J.  H.  Batty,  who  formerly  lived 
in  Springfield,  found  this  bird  breeding  in  Hazardville,  En- 
field ;  this  is  the  only  record  of  its  appearance  here  (see 
Merriam's  Birds  of  Connecticut,  page  119). 

219.  Gallinula  Galeata  (lyicht.).  Florida  Gal- 
LiNULE.     Rare  summer  resident ;  I  have  taken  half  a  dozen 


14  THE   BIRD.S   OF   SPRINGFIFJ^D   AND   VICINITY. 

Specimens  here  during  the  past  twenty  years.  Although  I 
have  no  positive  evidence,  still  I  have  little  doubt  that  it 
occasionally  breeds  here. 

221.  Fulica  americana  Gmel.  American  Coot.  A 
common  autumn  visitor,  but  rare  in' the  spring. 

22  2.  Crymophilus  fulicarius  (I^inn.).  Red  Phal- 
AROPE.  Accidental  visitor;  on  the  30th  of  September,  1893, 
William  H.  Lee  captured  two  out  of  a  flock  of  a  dozen  near 
Chicopee ;  these  are  the  specimens  in  the  Museum  of  Natural 
History. 

223.  Phalaropus  lobatus  (I/inn.).  Northern 
Phalarope.  Accidental  visitor ;  one  w^as  taken  in  Ware, 
October  13,  1875.  (See  Bulletin  Nutthall  Ornithological 
Club,  Vol.  5,  page  122.) 

228.  Philohela  minor  (Gmel.).  American  Wood- 
cock. Regular  spring  and  autumn  visitor,  and  a  tolerably 
common  summer  resident.  Fifteen  years  ago,  w^oodcock  bred 
regularly  and  abundantly,  but  about  1887  they  almost  ceased 
to  do  so,  and  only  occasionally  could  a  brood  be  found  here  ; 
this  condition  continued  for  about  a  decade,  but  during  the 
last  three  years  they  have  again  been  more  numerous  as  sum- 
mer residents. 

230.  Gallinago  delicata  (Ord.).  Wilson's  Snipe. 
Common  spring  and  autumn  visitor,  and  I  have  known  of 
its  being  here  both  in  midsummer  and  midwinter. 

231.  Macrorhamphus  griseus  (Gmel.).  Dowitcher. 
Rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  not  as  common  as  formerly. 

234.  Tringa  canutus  I/inn.  Knot.  Accidental  visitor; 
a  number  of  years  ago  I  captured  one  the  last  of  August, 
which  is  the  only  instance  known  to  me  of  its  presence  here. 


THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY.  16 

235.  Tringa  maritima  Brunn.  Purple  Sandpiper. 
Accidental  visitor.  I  shot  one  in  November,  1883,  but  know 
of  no  other  record. 

239.  Tringa  maculata  Vieill.  Pectoral  Sandpiper. 
Tolerably  common  autumn  visitor.  It  formerly  made  us 
quite  long  visits  at  this  season,  but  now  this  and  all  shore 
birds  are  killed  or  driven  away  very  soon  after  their  arrival;  at 
least  it  is  so  with  those  that  have  selected  the  vicinity  of  the 
river  for  their  feeding  ground. 

240.  Tringa  fuscicollis  Vieill.  White-rumped  Sand- 
piper. Common  autumn  migrant ;  occasionally  large  flocks 
stop  here. 

242.  Tringa  minutilla  Vieill.  Least  Sandpiper. 
Common  spring  and  autumn  visitor. 

243.  {a)  Tringa  alpina  pacifca  (Coues).  Red- 
backed  Sandpiper.  Tolerably  common  autumn  visitor,  and 
I  have  found  it  here  on  one  occasion  in  the  spring,  but  it  is  rare 
at  that  season. 

248.  Calidris  arenaria  (I<inn.).  Sanderling.  Rare 
autumn  visitor ;  it  probably  occurs  here  in  the  spring,  but 
I  know  of  no  instance  of  its  being  seen  then. 

254.  Totanus  melanoleucus  (Gmel.).  Greater 
Yellow-legs.  A  common  spring  and  autumn  visitor  ;  several 
years  I  have  found  it  abundant  here  in  May.  When  decoying 
for  ducks,  I  have  heard  far  up  in  the  distance,  the  faint 
whistle  of  this  bird,  and  by  a  rude  imitation  of  its  note,  have 
called  it  down  until  it  would  circle  close  around  the  wooden 
imitation  of  ducks. 

255.  Totanus  flavipes  (Gmel.).  Yellow-legs.  A 
rare  spring  and  autumn  visitor. 

256.  Helodromas  solitarius  (Wils.).  Solitary 
Sandpiper.     A  common  early  autumn  and  late  spring  visitor. 


16  THK   BIRDS    OF   SPRINGFlEIvD   AND   VICINITY. 

258.  Symphemia  semipalmata  (Gmel.).  Willet. 
Rare  spring  and  autumn  visitor  ;  I  captured  one  September  8, 
1900. 

261.  Bartramia  longicauda  (Bechst. ).  Bartra- 
MiAN 'Sandpiper.  Rather  rare  summer  resident,  breeding  in 
Russell,  Blandford  and  some  of  the  other  mountain  towns. 
Formerly,  it  was  abundant  in  the  river  towns  during  August, 
but  now  only  a  few  individuals  visit  us. 

262.  Tryngites  subruficollis  (Vieill.).  Buff-breasted 
Sandpiper.  Given  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  as  a  rare  spring 
and  autumn  vivsitor,  and  recorded  in  Merriam's  Birds  of  Con- 
necticut, as  having  been  taken  near  Hartford.  There  is  one 
example  in  the  Science  building  in  Springfield  that  was 
captured  at  Northampton  by  K.  O.  Damon. 

263.  Actitis  macularia  (I/inn.).  Spotted  Sand- 
piper.    Abundant  summer  resident. 

265.  Numenius  hudsonicus  I<ath.  Hudsonicus 
Curlew.  A  rare  migrant  ;  it  has  been  killed  in  the  vicinity  of 
Hartford  (see  Merriam's  Birds  of  Connecticut,  page  109).  I 
have  seen  a  Curlew  in  Longmeadow,  probably  one  of  this 
specie  ;  the  specimen  in  the  Science  building  in  Springfield, 
was  taken  by  K.  O.  Damon  at  Northampton. 

270.  Squatarola  squatarola  (I/inn.).  Black- 
bellied  Plover.  Accidental  visitor  ;  some  years  ago,  about 
the  first  of  June,  I  found  one  on  the  bank  of  the  Connecticut 
river  so  tame  that  it  permitted  me  to  row  within  fifteen  feet  of 
it  and  watch  it  feed. 

272.  Charadrius  dominicus  Miill.  American  Golden 
Plover.     Rare  autumn  visitor. 

273.  Aegialitis  vocifera  (I/inn.).  Killdeer.  .  A 
rare  summer  resident  ;  formally,  common  locally  when  a  great 


THE    BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY.  17 

maii}^  bred  in  the  lower  part  of  Agawani  and  in  Suffield.     In 
August,  1898,  an  unusually  large  number  appeared  here. 

274.  Aegialitis  semipalmata  Bonap.  Semipalmated 
Plover.  Recorded  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  as  a  not  rare  autumn 
visitor.  I  have  taken  but  one  specimen,  and  I  think  it  now 
occurs  here  only  as  a  accidental  visitor. 

277.  Aegialitis  meloda  (Ord.).  Piping  Plover. 
Accidental  visitor.  One  record  only.  (See  Birds  of  Amherst, 
page  47.) 

283  Arenaria  interpres  (I/inn.).  Turnstone.  Rare 
autumn  visitor. 

289.  Colinus  virginianus  (I/inn. ) .  B  o  b  -  w  h  i  r  e  . 
Common  resident,  but  sometimes,  during  winters  when  the 
ground  is  covered  by  deep  snow  for  a  long  period,  it  is  nearly 
exterminated.  On  the  17th  of  September,  1898,  I  found  a 
brood  just  hatched. 

300.  Bonasa  umbellus  (I/inn.).  Ruffed  Grouse. 
A  common  resident,  well  protected  by  law,  and  a  growing 
sentiment  in  favor  of  its  enforcement.  This  bird  has  other 
enemies  besides  man  ;  a  species  of  wood  tick  often  destroys 
whole  broods,  some  winters  the  goshawk  comes  down  from  the 
north  and  persistently  follows  this  grouse,  which  is  its  favorite 
food,  and  the  house  cat  is  responsible  for  the  destruction 
of  great  numbers  of  the  very  young. 

315.  Bctopistes  migratorius  (I/inn.).  Passenger 
Pigeon.  In  1876,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  pigeons  appeared 
here,  apparently  as  numerous  as  in  previous  years.  From  then 
until  1879  or  1880,  a  few  small  flocks  only  were  observed  each 
season.  In  the  spring  of  1884,  I  saw  in  Southwick  the  last 
pigeon  that  I  have  known  to  have  visited  this  vicinity. 


18  THE    BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIEIvD    AND   VICINITY. 

316.  ^enaidura  macroura  (I/inn.).  Mourning 
Dove.     A  coninion  suniiner,  and  a  very  rare  winter,  resident. 

325.  Cathartes  aura  (lyinn.).  Turkey  Vulture. 
Accidental  visitor.  Dr.  Wood  notes  the  presence  of  one  in 
East  Windsor,  which  is.  the  only  record.  (See  Merriani'S  Birds 
of  Connecticut,  page  92. ) 

331.  Circus  hudsonius  (I/iiin.V  MAiRsti  Hawk.  A 
common  spring  and  autumn  visitor,  and.  a  rare  summer'  resi- 
dent. 

332.  Accipiter  velox  (Wils.).  Sharp-shunned 
Hawk.  A  common  spring  and  autumn  visitor,  occasionally 
breeds  here,  and  is  often  seen  in  winter.  This  is  the  boldest 
of  our  birds  of  prey.  Some  years  ago  while  decoying  ducks,  I 
saw  one  of  these  little  hawks '  like  a  flash  fasten  itself  to  the 
back  of  a  wood  duck  that  was  fluttering  oyer  the  decoys  ; 
what  would  have  been  the  result  of  this  encounter  I  cannot 
say,  as  both  were  shot  w^hile  in  this  position.  Once,  while 
w^atching  a  flock  of  j uncos  in  a  large  oak  tree,  I  saw  one 
of  these  haw^ks  suddenly  make  a  dart  for  them,  and,  selecting 
its  victim,  chase  the  bird  back  and  forth  and  round  about 
the  branches  of  the  tree  until  the  poor  juiico  fell  to  the  ground 
in  a  collapse  from  fright,  as  it  had  not  been  touched  by  the 
hawk. 

333.  Accipiter  cooperii  (Bonap.).  Cooper's  Hawk. 
Tolerably  common  summer  resident,  but  much  more  numerous 
during  migration  ;  rare  in  winter.  .  This  is  the  hawk  that  is  so 
destructive  to  poultry  in  Western  Massachusetts,  and  for 
its  sins  many  other  useful  kinds  are  made  to  suffer. 

334.  Accipiter  atricapillus  (Wils. ) .  American 
Goshawk.  Irregular  winter  visitor  from  the  north,  not 
generally  common.  As  the  flesh  of  the  ruffed  grouse  is  its 
favorite  food,  a  large  visitation  of  this  hawk  is  not  desirable. 


THE    BIRDS   OF   SPRINGKIKIJ)   AND   VICINITY.  19 

337.  Buteo  borealis  (Gmel.).  Red-tailed  Hawk. 
An  abundant  migrant  both  in  the  spring  and  in  the  autumn, 
sometimes  passing  through  the  Connecticut  valley  in  vSmall 
flocks;  also  a  tolerably  common  summer  and  rare  winter 
resident. 

339.  Buteo  lineatus  (Gmel.)-  Red-shouldered 
Hawk.  Very  connnon  summer  but  rare  winter  rCvSident;  I 
think  this  hawk  breed;;  here  in  greater  numbers  than  all  other 
kinds  put  together. 

343.  Buteo  latissimus  (Wils.).  Broad-winged 
Hawk.  Breeds  regularly  and  commonly  in  the  mountains 
west  of  Westfield;  rare  in  the  river  towns  during  the  spring 
and  autumn. 

347.  a  Archibuteo  lagopus  sancti-johannis  (Gmel.). 

American  Rough-legged  Hawk.  A  common  winter  visitor, 
but  not  so  numerous  as  ten  years  ago.  While  here  it  feeds 
entirely  on  mice  and  other  rodents;  if  the  ground  is  covered 
with  snow  to  a  great  depth,  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  food 
causes  it  to  move  further  south,  but  it  always  returns  soon 
after  the  snow  melts  and  a  substantial  portion  of  the  ground  is 
uncovered. 

349.  Aquila  chrysaetos  (I<inn.).  Golden  Eagle. 
There  are  no  late  records  of  the  appearance  of  the  Golden  Eagle 
in  this  vicinity;  one  was  taken  in  Monson,  in  November,  1864, 
and  two  were  captured  in  Westfield,  two  years  later.  (See 
Allen's  Rarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts.) 

352.  Haliaeetus  leucocephalus  (I/inn.).  Bald 
Eagle.  Rather  uncommon  transient  visitor  in  the  spring, 
summer  and  autumn,  and  rare  in  the  winter.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen 
reported  it  as  sometimes  breeding.  Occasionally  it  is  quite 
numerous  near  the  river  in  late  summer,  feeding  on  the  dead 
fish  that  are  often  to  be  found  in  large  numbers  at  that  season. 
On  Mt.  Tom,  once,  I  saw  a  Duck  Hawk  make  a  savage  attack 
on  a  Bald  Eagle  and  drive  it  from  the  mountain. 


20  THE   BIRDS   OF    SPRINGFIBXD    AND   VICINITY. 

354.  a  Falco  rusticolus  gyrfalco  (I/inn.).  Gyr- 
FALCON.  Accidental  visitor;  Mr.  E.  O.  Damon  captured  one 
in  Northampton,  February,  1879,  which  is  the  specimen  in  the 
Science  building. 

356.  Falco  peregrinus  anatum  (Bonap.).  Duck 
Hawk.  A  rare  summer  resident,  breeding  on  several  of  the 
mountain  tops  in  this  vicinity,  including  Mt.  Tom,  where  for 
years  its  nests  have  been  constantly  robbed.  Notwithstanding 
this,  and  the  fact  that  a  hotel  has  been  built  on  the  summit, 
wath  electric  cars  running  to  it,  the  Duck  Hawk  still  persists 
in  making  this  mountain  its  summer  home. 

357.  Falco  columbarius  I^inn.  Pigkon  Hawk.  Rare 
spring  and  autumn  visitor.  Dr.  William  Wood  was  quite  sure 
that  it  bred  in  East  Windsor,  but  he  had  no  positive  evidence 
of  that  fact. 

360.  Falco  sparverius  lyinn.  American  Sparrow 
Hawk.  Common  summer  resident,  not  uncommon  in  winter 
and  more  numerous  at  all  seasons  than  formerly.  In  1894,  a 
pair  built  their  nest  on  a  platform  under  the  cornice  of  the 
six-story  building  of  the  Morgan  Envelope  Company,  on  Har- 
rison avenue,  Springfield,  where  their  young  were  successfully 
raised,  and  nearly  every  year  since  I  have  seen  a  pair  through 
the  breeding  season,  near  the  business  center  of  Springfield; 
one  year  they  adopted  the  steeple  of  the  First  church  as  their 
home,  where  they  could  be  seen  every  day.  Two  or  three 
winters  ago,  a  large  bag  of  oats  was  broken  open  and  the  con- 
tents scattered  in  the  yard  of  my  unused  barn  at  Tatham,  in 
W^est  Springfield,  and  to  feed  on  this  grain,  mice  gathered  in 
such  great  numbers  that  the  barn  was  overrun  with  them. 
In  March,  a  pair  of  Sparrow^  Hawks,  finding  their  food  supply 
so  abundant,  drove  out  a  pair  of  doves,  that  were  breeding  in 
an  apartment  of  a  cote  attached  to  the  barn,  and  there  laid  their 
eggs.  Though  the  male  was  killed,  the  female  persisted,  and 
at  the  end  of  thirty-four  days  the  young  were  hatched  and 
successfully  raivSed.  During  the  time  of  incubation  and  the 
raising  of  the  young,   none  of  the  wild  birds  in  the  vicinity 


THE    BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY.  21 

were  interfered  with  by  the  mother  hawk,  and  even  the  doves 
that  had  been  driven  out  were  permitted  to  nest  within  a  few 
feet  of  their  former  home.  The  hawks  nearly,  if  not  quite, 
exterminated  the  mice  that  at  first  w^ere  so  numerous. 

364.  Pandion     haliaetus     carolinensis      (GmeL). 

American  Osprey.  Common  during  both,  the  spring  and 
autumn  migration;  often  seen  here  near  the  Connecticut  river, 
during  the  summer,  but  I  have  no  knowledge  of  its  breeding 
in  the  vicinity  of  Springfield.  Once  while  on  one  of  the 
meadows  bordering  the  river,  on  a  foggy  day  in  April,  I  saw 
an  Osprey  that  had  been  shot  fall  to  the  ground  slightly 
wounded,  and  there  uttered  the  most  piteous  screams  that  I 
ever  heard  come  from  a  bird.  Immediately,  there  appeared, 
out  of  the  fog  above,  a  dozen  other  Osprey s,  who  for  a  long 
time  circled  around  their  injured  relative  w4th  cries  of 
sympathy. 

365.  Strix  pratincola  Bonap.  American  Barn  Owl. 
Accidental  visitor  from  the  South;  one  w^as  taken  in  Spring- 
field, in  May,  1868,  which  is  one  of  the  few  Massachusetts 
records.      (See  Allen's  Rarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts.) 

366.  Asio  wilsonianus  (I^ess.).  American  •  Long- 
eared  Owl.     Tolerably  common  resident. 

367.  Asio  accipitrinus  (Pall.).  Short-eared  Owl. 
A  common  spring  and  autumn  visitor.  During  open  winters  a 
number  stay  with  us,  and  I  have  seen  it  here  in  January,  when 
the  snow  was  very  deep;  it  occasionally  breeds,  but  at  no 
season  now  is  it  as  numerous  as  fifteen  years  ago,  when  it  was 
often  found  in  colonies.  Mr.  E.  O.  Damon  stated  that  he  once 
saw  a  hundred  of  these  birds  together  on  the  Northampton 
meadows. 

368.  Syrnium  nebulosum  (Forst.).  Barred-Owl. 
A  rather  uncommon  resident,  but  occasionally  quite  numerous 
in  late  autumn.  Mr.  William  Street  of  Easthampton  has 
twice  found  the  nest  of  this  owl.  (See  Baird,  Brewster  & 
Ridway's  North  American  Birds,  Vol.  Ill,  page  37.) 


22  THE    BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND    VICINITY. 

370.  Scotiapatex  cinerea  (Gmel.).  Oreat  Gray 
Owl.  Accidental  winter  visitor.  Many  years  ago  one  was 
taken  at  Westfield;  on  February  25,  1883,  one  was  taken  in 
Agawani,  another  in  Blandford,  March  4,  1896,  and  Mr.  E.  O. 
Damon  has  taken  one  at  Northampton.  The.se  are  the  only 
records  of  its  appearance  here  known  to  me. 

371.  Nyctala     tengmalmi    richardsoni     (Bonap.). 

Richardson's  Owl.  A  very  rare  winter  visitor.  There  are 
only  old  records  of  its  appearance  in  this  vicinity;  Dr.  J.  A. 
Allen  obtained  one  in  December,  1859,  (see  Catalogue  of  the 
Birds  of  Springfield, )  and  about  the  same  time  one  was  captured 
by  hand  at  East  Windsor.  (See  Merriam's  Birds  of  Connecticut, 
page  73.) 

372.  Nyctala  acadica  (Gmel.).  Saw- whet  Owl. 
A  rather  uncommon  winter  vi.sitor  ;  probably  breeds  here  occa- 
sionally. 

373.  Megascops  asio  (I/inn.).  Screech  Owl.  Abund- 
ant resident,  often  breeding  in  the  residential  portion  of  Spring- 
field. 

375.  Bubo  virginianus  (Gmel.).  Great  Horned 
Owl.     a  common  resident. 

376.  Nyctea  nyctea  (I/inn. ).  Snow^y  Owl.  Rare 
winter  visitor  ;  occasionally  a  number  will  be  seen  here,  but 
most  seasons  it  is  entirely  absent.  Dr.  William  Wood  of 
Somers,  Ct.,  told  me  that  very  early  one  morning,  a  number  of 
years  ago,  he  saw  one  fly  over  Main  street,  Springfield,  near 
the  old  railroad  station. 

377  a  Surnia  ulula  caparoch  (Mull.).  American 
Hawk  Owl.  Very  rare  winter  resident  ;  Mr.  E.  O.  Damon 
has  taken  one  at  Northampton,  and  tw^o  were  captured  at 
Hadley  in  March,  1884.      (See  Birds  of  Amherst,  page  48.) 


THE    BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIEI.D   AND   VICINITY.  23 

387.  Coccy^us  americanus  (Xinn.).  Yellow- 
BiLLED  Ci'CKOO.  Irregular  summer  resident  ;  some  years  it 
is  rather  common,  and  in  others  there  are  few,  if  any,  here, ' 

388.  CoccyztiS  erythrophthalmus  (Wils.).  Black- 
billed  Cuckoo.     Common  and  regular  summer  resident. 

390.  Ceryle  alcyon  (I^inn.j.  Belted  Kingfisher. 
Common  summer  and  rare  winter  resident. 

:^93.  Dryobates  villosus  (lyinn. ).  Hairy  Wood- 
pecker. A  rather  uncommon  summer  and  winter  resident  ; 
in  late  autumn  I  have  occasionally  found  them  quite  numer- 
ous. 

394  r  Dryobates    pubescens    medianus     (Swains.). 

Downy  Woodpecker.  A  common  winter  and  summer  resi- 
dent. 

400.  Picoides  arcticus  (Swains.).  Arctic  Three- 
toed  Woodpecker.  A  rare  winter  resident.  It  has  been 
taken  at  East  Windsor  and  Simsbury,  Ct.,  (see  Merriam's 
Birds  of  Connecticut,  page  64,)  a  pair  at  Westfield,  (see 
Allen's  Rarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts,)  and  also  on  Mt. 
Nonotuck  by  Mr.  William  Street. 

402.  Sphyrapicus  varius  (I<inn.).  Yellow-bellied 
Sapsucker.  Tolerably  common  during  its  migration,  both  in 
the  spring  and  in  the  autumn  ;  in  April,  1898,  it  was  unusualh' 
numerous.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reported  it  as  an  accidental  sum- 
mer visitor. 

405  a  Ceophloeus     pileatus     abieticola      Bangs. 

Northern  Pileated  Woodpecker.  A  rare  resident,  found 
in  the  well-wooded  portion  of  the  extreme  western  part  of 
Hampden  county.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  in  his  "Rarer  Birds  of 
Massachusetts,"  says  that  Mr.  J.  G.  Scott  informed  him  that 
he  had  taken  three  specimens  near  Westfield,  and  that  Dr. 
Wood  writes  that  one  was  killed  at  East  Windsor  about  1859. 


24  THK   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD    AND   VICINITY. 

406.  Malanerpes  erythrocephalus  (I/inn.).  Red- 
headed Woodpecker.  Sixty  years  ago  this  bird  was  com- 
mon here,  it  is  now  an  irregular  and  rather  rare  visitor,  more 
often  seen  in  early  autumn  ;  I  have  known  of  an  instance  of 
one  wintering  here.  In  the  summer  of  1889,  a  pair  bred  in  the 
western  part  of  Agawam,  and  in  September,  1894,  a  flock 
of  about  fifty  made  a  visit  to  Forest  Park,  Springfield,  where 
they  remained  for  several  days. 

409.  Melanerpes  carolinus  (I<inn.).  Red-Bellied 
Woodpecker.  Accidental  visitor.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  observed 
one  here,  and  one  had  been  taken  in  Suffield.  (See  Merriam's 
Birds  of  Connecticut,  page  65.) 

412.  a  Colaptes  auratus  lutens  Bangs.  North- 
ern Flicker.  Abundant  summer  resident,  a  few  remaining 
during  the  winter. 

417.  Antrostomus  vociferus  (Wils.).  Whip-poor- 
will.     A  common  summer  resident. 

420.  Chordeiles  virginianus  (Gmel.).  Night- 
hawk.  Very  common  summer  resident  ;  during  recent  years 
often  breeding  on  the  roofs  of  blocks  in  the  business  center  of 
Springfield. 

423  Chaetura  pelagica  (I/inn.).  Chimney  Swift. 
Abundant  summer  resident. 

428.  Trochilus  colubris  I/inn.  Ruby-throated  Hum- 
ming BIRD.     Common  summer  resident. 

444.  Tyrannus  tyrannus  (lyinn.).  Kingbird.  Abund- 
ant summer  resident. 

452.  Myiarchus  crinitus  (I/inn.).  CrEvSTed  Fly- 
catcher. Not  generally  common,  but  locally  a  regular  sum- 
mer resident. 


LU    M- 
>    - 

—    Iv 


THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY.  2S 

456.  Sayornis  Phcebe  (I^ath.).  Phcebe.  Common 
summer  resident. 

459.  Contopus  borealis  (Swains.).  Olive-sided 
Flycatcher.  A  rather  rare  summer  resident ;  breeds  regu- 
larly at  Tatham,  in  West  Springfield.  For  several  successive 
seasons  a  pair  made  their  home  in  the  Peabody  cemetery, 
Springfield,  but  they  abandoned  that  place  some  five  or  six 
years  ago. 

461.  Contopus  virens  (I^inn.).  Wood  Pk wee.  Com- 
mon summer  resident. 

463.  Bttipidonax  flaviventris  Baird.  Yellow- 
bellied  Flycatcher.  Tolerably  common  spring  and  autumn 
visitor.  Once  a  specimen  of  this  kind  was  brought  to  me  with 
a  broken  wing,  and  evidently  in  a  half -starved  condition  ;  I 
forced  a  fly  down  its  throat,  and  in  a  few  minutes  it  took  them 
in  this  unusual  way  without  resistance,  and  in  half  an  hour  it 
would  come  across  the  cage  in  which  it  was  confined,  and 
eagerl}^  snap  a  fly  from  my  hand.  This  was  the  quickest  tam- 
ing of  a  wild  bird  that  I  have  ever  known. 

465.  Bmpidonax  virescens  (Vieill.).  Green- 
crested  Flycatcher.  Accidental  visitor  ;  it  has  been  taken 
at  Suffield.      (See  Merriam's  Birds  of  Connecticut,  page  58.) 

466.  a  Empidonax  traillii  alnorum  Brewst.  Alder 
Flycatcher.  A  rare  summer  resident ;  found  in  the  ex- 
treme western  part  of  Hampden  and  Hampshire  counties. 

467.  Bmpidonax  minimus  Baird.  Least  Fly- 
catcher.    Common  summer  resident. 

474.  Otocoris  alpestris  (I^inn.).  Horned  Lark.  A 
rare  spring  and  autumn  vivsitor. 

474.  b  Otocoris  alpestris  praticola  Hensh.  Prairie 
Horned  Lark.     There  is   an   old   specimen   in   the  Science 


26  THE   BIRDvS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY. 

building  that  must  have  been  captured  here  twenty  years  ago. 
A  flock  of  twenty-five  or  more  spent  the  winter  of  1896-7  in 
Longmeadow. 

477.  Cyanocitta  cristata  (I/inn.).  BlukJay.  Com- 
mon resident ;  more  numerous  in  the  spring  and  autumn. 

486.  a  Corvus  corax  principalis  Ridgw.  North- 
ern Raven.  Accidental  visitor.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  records  the 
capture  of  one  here  in  1859,  and  Mr.  B.  O.  Damon  has  taken 
one  at  Northampton. 

488.  Corvus  americanus  Aud.  American  Crow. 
Abundant  resident. 

490.  Corvus  OSSifragus  Wils.  Fish  Crow.  Rare 
summer  visitor.  On  June  9,  1896,  while  a  number  of  men 
were  at  a  shooting  match  in  the  suburbs  of  Springfield,  a 
fish  crow  flying  over  the  party  was  shot  and  captured.  This 
specimen  is  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  William  Brewster  of  Cam- 
bridge. I  think  I  have  seen  and  heard  the  fish  crow  here  on 
one  or  two  occasions,  but  except  in  the  instance  above  men- 
tioned, I  know  of  no  positive  evidence  of  its  occurrence  here. 

494.  Dolichonyx  ory^ivorus  (I/inn.).  Bobolink. 
Abundant  summer  resident. 

495.  Molothrus  ater  (Bodd.).  Cowbird.  Rather 
common  summer  resident. 

498.  Agelaius  Phoeniceus  (I/inn.).  Red-winged 
Blackbird.  Abundant  summer  resident.  In  1896-7,  a 
small  flock  wintered  in  a  clump  of  willows  close  to  the  Con- 
necticut river  in  Longmeadow  ;  in  January  one  or  two  were 
shot  and  killed,  but  the  rest  remained  until  March. 

501.  Sturnella  magna  (I<inn.).  Meadowlark. 
Common  summer  and  rather  rare  winter  resident. 


THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIEIyD   AND   VICINITY.  27 

506.  Icterus  spurius  (lyinn.).  Orchard  Oriole. 
A  not  uncommon  summer  resident  in  the  river  towns  ;  it  w^as 
unusually  numerous  in  1893. 

507.  Icterus  galbula  (I/inn.).  Baltimore  Oriole. 
Abundant  summer  resident.  Individuals  of  this  kiiid  are  in- 
clined to  vary  in  their  song ;  I  know  of  one  whose  notes,  to  the 
most  casual  listener,  suggested  the  tune  of  Yankee  Doodle, 
and  the  residents  in  the  vicinity  of  the  oriole's  nest  gave  it  the 
name  of  the  "  Yankee  Doodle  bird." 

509.  Scolecophagus  carolinus  (Mull.).  Rusty 
Blackbird.     Common  spring  and  autumn  vivsitor. 

511.   b  Quiscalus     quiscula      aeneus      (Ridgw.). 

Bronzed  Grackle.  Common* summer  resident;  often  seen 
here  in  August  and  September  in  enormous  flocks.  A  small 
flock  passed  a  large  portion  of  the  winter  1906-01  in  Long- 
meadow.  Its  near  relative,  the  Purple  Grackle,  may  oc- 
casionally occur  here,  but  I  have  no  proof  of  that  fact. 

514.  Coccotliraustes  vespertinus  (Coop.).  Even- 
ing Grosbeak.  With  the  exception  of  the  winter  of  1889-90, 
this  bird  was  never  known  to  appear  in  this  vicinity  or  else- 
where in  New  England.  At  that  time  there  was  a  large 
incursion  from  the  northwest  into  the  eastern  states,  and 
specimens  were  taken  at  Agawam,  Brimfield  and  Amherst. 
(See  The  Auk,  vol.  7,  pages  210-289.) 

515.  Pinicola  enucleator  canadensis.    (Cab.).    Pine 

Grosbeak.  Irregular  winter  visitor ;  absent  some  seasons, 
common  others,  and  rarely  abundant.  In  1874-5,  they  were 
as  numerous  in  the  streets  of  Springfield  as  the  English  spar- 
rows are  now. 

517.  Carpodacus  purpureus  (Gmel.).  Purple  Finch. 
Tolerably  common  summer  resident,  more  numerous  during 
migration  ;  occasionally  here  during  winter. 


28  THE   BIRDS   OP  SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY. 

521.  I/Oxia  curvirostra  minor  (Brehm).  American 
CrossbiIvIv.  Irregular  winter  visitor ;  it  may  occasionally 
breed  here.  In  1900,  a  pair  stayed  at  Tatham,  in  West  Spring- 
field, through  the  latter  part  of  the  month  of  May. 

522.  I/Oxia  leucoptera  Gmel.  White-winged  Cross- 
BiLi,.  Irregular  winter  visitor,  appearing  not  as  frequently  as 
the  preceding  species.  It  was  more  numerous  here  in  the 
winter  of  1899- 1900  than  I  ever  knew  it  to  be  before. 

528.  Acanthis  linaria  (I/inn.).  Redpoi.1..  Irregu- 
lar winter  visitor,  being  quite  common  some  seasons.  I  pre- 
sume the  Greater  Redpoll  occasionally  occurs  here. 

529.  Astragalinus  tristis  (I/inn.).  American  Gold- 
finch.    Common  permanent  resident. 

533.  Spinus  pinus  (Wils.)-  Pine  Siskin.  Irregular 
winter  visitor,  not  usually  common. 

534.  Passerina  nivalis  (I/inn.).  Snowflake.  Com- 
mon winter  visitor,  but  not  as  numerous  as  it  was  20  years  ago. 

536.  Calcarius  lapponicus  (I<inn.).  Lapland  IvOng- 
SPUR.  One  specimen  was  taken  here  November  27,  1895, 
which  is  the  only  record  of  its  occurrence  here. 

540.  Poocaetes  gramineus  (Gmel.).  Vesper  Spar- 
row.    Common  summer  resident. 

542.  a  Ammodramus       sandwichensis      savanna 

(Wils.)'  Savanna  Sparrow.  Common  spring  and  autumn 
visitor,  and  a  rare  summer  resident.  In  1895-6,  one  indi- 
vidual wintered  in  Longmeadow,  on  the  banks  of  the  Con- 
necticut river,  where  large  masses  of  soil  and  turf  had  been 
undermined  by  the  high  water  and  broken  off  from  the  main 
bank,  leaving  little  irregular  valleys  between,  which  were  well 
protected  from  the  weather  ;  here  this  little  sparrow  could  any 
day  be  flushed.  I  believe  this  is  as  far  north  as  the  Savanna 
sparrow  has  ever  been  known  to  winter. 


THE   BIRDS  OF  SPRINGFIELD   AND  VICINITY.  29 

546.  Ammodramus  savannarum  passerinus  ( Wils. ) . 

Grasshopper  Sparrow.     Common  summer  resident. 

547.  Ammodramus  henslowii  (Aud.).  Henslow's 
Sparrow.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  reports  the  capture  of  one  in 
Springfield,  and  Mr.  William  Brewster  states  that  it  breeds 
quite  numerously  near  Amherst.  (See  foot  note,  page  200, 
Minot's  Land  Birds  and  Game  Birds  of  New  England,  2d 
edition.) 

554.  ^onotrichia  leucophrys  (Forst.).  White- 
crowned  Sparrow.     Rare  spring  and  autumn  visitor. 

558.  5/onotrichia  albicoUis  (Gmel.)-  White- 
throated  Sparrow.  Very  common  spring  and  autumn 
visitor ;  breeds  occasionally  in  Granville,  Blandford,  and  I 
presume  in  Chester.  The  late  Mr.  R.  B.  Hildreth  was  con- 
fident that  a  pair  once  bred  in  Ingersoll  dell  in  Springfield. 
Under  date  of  August  13,  1867,  he  wrote  that  he  had  seen  and 
heard  a  pair  there  more  than  forty  times  during  the  summer, 
always  near  the  same  spot,  and  though  he  did  not  find  the 
nest,  he  believed  it  to  be  at  no  great  distance. 

559.  Spi^jella  monticola  (Gmel.).  Tree  Sparrow. 
Common  winter  resident,  and  abundant  in  spring  and  autumn. 

560.  Spi^ella  socialis     (Wils.).     Chipping  Sparrow. 

Abundant  summer  resident. 

563.  Spi^ella  pusilla  (Wils.).  Field  Sparrow. 
Common  summer  resident. 

567.  Junco  hyemalis  (I/inn.).  Slate-colored  Junco. 
An  abundant  migrant,  both  in  the  spring  and  the  autumn,  and 
a  few  winter  here ;  it  occasionally  breeds  on  the  mountain 
tops,  including  Holyoke,  Nonotuck,  and  Tom.  A  pair  were 
seen  near  the  pavilion  on  Mt.  Tom  the  21st  of  June,  1900. 

581.  Melospiija  fasciata  (Gmel.).  Song  Sparrow. 
Abundant  summer  resident,  and  often  winters  here  ;  it  is  more 
common  during  the  latter  season  than  is  generally  supposed. 


30  THE   BIRDS   OE   SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY. 

583.  Melospi^a  lincolni  (Aud.).  Lincoln's  Spar- 
row. Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  took  three  specimens  at  Springfield  ; 
Mr.  Edwin  I.  Shores  took  several  at  Suffield,  and  did  not  con- 
sider it  rare  there.      (See  N.  E.  Bird  Life,  Vol.  i,  page  252.) 

584.  Melospi^a  georgiana  (lyath.).  Swamp  Spar- 
row.    Rather  uncommon  summer  resident. 

585.  Passerella  iliaca  (Merr.).  Fox  Sparrow. 
Common  spring  and  autumn  migrant  ;  sometimes  abundant. 

587.  Pipilo  erythrophthalmus  (I/inn.).  Towhee. 
Common  summer  resident.^ 

593.  Cardinalis  cardinalis  (lyinn.).  Cardinal. 
Accidental  visitor.  (  For  records  of  its  appearance  at  Springfield, 
Belchertown,  and  Southampton,  see  G.  A.  Allen's  Rarer  Birds 
of  Massachusetts. ) 

595.  ^amelodia  ludoviciana  (I/inn.).  Rose- 
BREASTED  GROSBEAK.  Common  summer  resident,  occurring 
in  increasing  numbers  during  the  past  ten  years. 

598.  Cyanospi^a  cyanea  (I/inn.).  Indigo  Bunting. 
Common  summer  resident. 

604.  Spi^a  americana  (GmeL).  Dickcissel.  Ac- 
cidental visitor.  Sixty  years  ago  it  was  considered  a  common 
bird  in  Massachusetts  ;  it  was  captured  in  Holyoke  in  May, 
1866,  by  Mr.  C.  W.  Bennett.  (See  J.  A.  Allen's  Rarer  Birds  of 
Massachusetts. ) 

608.  Piranga  erythromelas  Vieill.  Scarlet  Tana- 
GER.     Common  summer  resident. 

611.  Progne  subis  (I/inn.).  Purple  Martin.  Rare 
summer  resident ;  at  one  time  it  was  a  common  bird  here,  but 
now  only  a  few  colonies  are  to  be  seen. 


THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY.  81 

6x2.  Petrochelidon  lunifrons  (Say).  Cliff  Swal- 
low. Rather  common  summer  resident,  but  not  as  numerous 
as  formerly.  In  a  diary  of  the  late  R.  B.  Hildreth,  it  is  stated 
that  a  colony  of  these  birds  took  up  their  residence  under  the 
eaves  of  a  barn  at  the  homestead  of  Festus  Stebbins  on  North 
Main  street  in  Springfield,  about  1835,  when  the  land  west 
of  this  place  was  an  open  space  running  back  perhaps  a  thou- 
sand feet  to  the  river,  and  down  until  about  1870  they  per- 
sisted in  occupying  it  as  their  home,  notwithstanding  Springfield 
changed  from  a  town  to  a  city,  and  in  this  open  space  were 
built  a  portion  of  a  railroad  and  numerous  buildings. 

613.  Chelidon  erythrogastra  (Bodd.).  Barn  Swal- 
low.    Abundant  summer  resident. 

614.  Tachycineta  bicolor  (Vieill.).  Tree  Swal- 
low. Only  a  few  breed  here,  but  the  latter  part  of  the  sum- 
mer they  become  very  numerous,  especially  along  the  river, 
where  I  have  seen  towards  evening  immense  flocks  alight  on 
the  wild  rice,  which  grows  profusely  along  the  bank. 

616.  Clivicola  riparia  (I/inn.).  Bank  Swallow. 
Common  summer  resident. 

617.  Stelgidopteryx  serripennis  (Aud.).  Rough- 
winged  Swallow.  There  are  only  three  records  of  its  ap- 
pearance in  this  vicinty.  At  Sufiield,  June  6,  1874  (see 
Nuttall  Ornith.  Bulletin,  Vol.  2,  page  211);  at  Easthamp- 
ton  May,  1851  (see  Birds  of  Amherst,  page  49),  and  at  East 
Hartford  (see  J.  A.  Allen's  Revised  List  of  Birds  of  Massa- 
chusetts). 

618.  Ampelis  garrulus  I/inn.  Bohemian  Waxwing. 
It  has  been  taken  by  the  late  Dr.  William  Wood  of  East  Wind- 
sor (see  Merriam's  Birds  of  Connecticut,  page  579).  This  is  the 
only  instance  known  to  me. 

619.  Ampelis  cedrorum  (Vieill.).  Cedar  Waxwing. 
Generally  a  common  summer  resident,  often  seen  in  the  last 


32  THK   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY. 

part  of  winter  in  flocks,  but  irregular  in  its  appearance  at  all 
times.  It  was  more  numerous  here  in  September,  1900,  than 
at  any  time  for  years. 

621.  I/anius  borealis  Vieill.  Northern  Shrike. 
Common  winter  visitor. 

622.  a  I^anius  ludovicianus  excubitorides  (Swains.) 

White-rumped  Shrike.  Has  been  taken  in  Amherst.  (See 
Birds  of  Amherst,  page  49.) 

624.  Vireo  olivaceus  (I/inn.).  Red-eyed  Vireo. 
Abundant  summer  resident. 

627.  Vireo  gilvus  (Vieill.).  Warbi^ing  Vireo.  Com- 
mon summer  resident. 

628.  Vireo  flavifrons  Vieill.  YelIvOw-t  h  r  o  a  t  e  d 
Vireo.  Common  summer  resident  ;  much  more  numerous 
than  ten  years  ago  ;  it  has  a  decided  preference  for  the  shade 
trees  along  the  streets  of  the  cities  and  towns,  and  in  the  resi- 
dential portions  of  Springfield  it  is  as  common  as  any  of  the 
vireo. 

629.  Vireo  solitarius  (Wils.).  Blue-headed  Vireo. 
Common  spring  and  autumn  visitor,  and  now  a  rare  summer 
resident.  For  the  four  years  previous  to  1895  this  bird  was 
breeding  here  in  increasing  numbers  ;  one  season  three  pair 
nested  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Peabody  cemetery  in 
Springfield  ;  since  that  year  I  have  seen  but  one  pair  here  in 
summer.  This  condition  is  undoubtedly  accounted  for  by  the 
exceptional  cold  at  the  South  in  the  winter  of  1894-5,  which 
destroyed  so  many  birds. 

631.  Vireo  noveboracensis  (Gmel.).  White-eyed 
Vireo.  Very  rare  at  Springfield  and  up  the  river,  although 
almost  abundant  in  the  lower  Connecticut  valley,  and  even  to 
the  Massachusetts  line  it  is  hardly  uncommon.  Dr.  William 
Wood  found  several  nests  at  East  Windsor,  and  K.  I.  Shores  of 


THE  BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD  AND  VICINITY.  33 

Suffield  considered  it  common  there,  but  for  some  unknown 
reason  it  will  not  cross  the  line  from  Connecticut  into  Massa- 
chusetts except  as  a  very  rare  visitor.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  knew 
of  but  one  instance  of  its  occurrence  near  Springfield,  and 
in  this  state.  (See  Rarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts.)  I  found 
one  in  Hampden,  which  is  the  only  .time  I  have  seen  one  in  the 
valley  above  the  Connecticut  line. 

636.  Mniotilta  varia  (I<inn.).  Black  and  White 
Warbler.     Common  summer  resident. 

637.  Protonotaria  citrea  (Bodd.).  Prothonotary 
Warbler.  A  rare  visitor  from  the  South  ;  three  were  taken 
at  Northampton  in  May,  1883  ;  one  of  these  is  in  the  collection 
at  the  Science  building  in  Springfield. 

639.  Helmitherus  vermivorus  (Gmel.).  Worm- 
EATing  Warbler.  A  rare  visitor  from  the  South.  E.  I. 
Shores  took  one  in  Suffield,  August  22,  1874,  and  one  was 
seen  in  Easthampton.  (See  Part  i  New  England  Bird  I^ife, 
page  III.) 

641.  Helminthophila  pinus  (I/inn.).  Blue- winged 
Warbler.  I  do  not  know  of  any  instance  of  its  occurrence  in 
this  vicinity,  but  there  is  one  record  of  the  capture  at  Sufiield 
of  the  Brewster  warbler,  which  by  many  is  considered  to  be 
one  of  this  kind,  in  different  color  phase.  (See  Bui.  Nuttall 
Ornith.  Club,  Vol.  11 1,  page  199.) 

642.  Helminthophila  chrysoptera  (I/inn.).  Golden- 
winged  Warbler.  Very  rare  summer  resident.  It  has  been 
observed  in  summer  by  Mr.  Allen  in  Springfield,  and  by  Mr. 
Bennett  in  Holyoke  (see  Baird,  Brewer  and  Ridgway's  North 
American  Birds) ;  and  W.  A.  Steams  has  seen  specimens  taken 
in  Amherst  (see  Birds  of  Amherst);  E.  I.  Shores  has  taken 
several  at  Suffield  (see  Merriam's  Birds  of  Connecticut) .  J.  H . 
Sage  says  this  bird  is  a  common  summer  resident  at  Portland, 
40  miles  down  the  Connecticut  valley  from  Springfield  ;  he  also 


34  THE  BIRDS   OF  SPRINGFIELD   AND  VICINITY. 

states  that  the  Brewster  blue-winged  w^arbler  is  a  regular  sum- 
mer resident  there.      (See  The  Auk,  1893,  page  208. ) 

645.  Helminthophila  rubricapilla  (Wils.).  Nash- 
viivLE  WarbIvER.  Very  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant, 
and  rather  uncommon  summer  resident. 

646.  Helminthophila  celata  (Say.).  Orangk- 
CROWNED  Warbler.  Accidental  visitor  ;  the  only  record  of 
its  appearance  here,  and  one  of  the  very  few  in  MaSvSachusetts, 
is  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  w^ho  shot  one  from  quite  a  number  that 
he  found  in  an  orchard  on  May  15,  1863. 

647.  Helminthophila  peregrina  (Wils.).  Ten- 
nessee Warbler.  Rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  Dr. 
Allen,  in  the  Rarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts,  states  that  he  had 
taken  it  repeatedly  at  Springfield  ;  at  Suffield  it  was  captured 
as  late  as  June  8  (see  Birds  of  Connecticut,  page  14);  there  is 
no  other  evidence  of  its  breeding  than  finding  it  here  at  so 
late  a  date.  This  bird  so  closely  resembles  the  Nashville 
warbler  that  it  is  well  to  have  it  in  hand  to  positively 
identify  it. 

648.  a  Compsothlypis  americana  usneae    Brewster. 

Northern  Parula  Warbler.  A  common  spring  and 
autumn  migrant,  and  rather  rare  summer  resident ;  breeding 
only  near  where  Usnea  "moss"  is  found,  of  which  material 
its  nest  is  always  constructed. 

650.  Dendroica  tigrina  (Gmel.).  Cape  May 
Warbler.     Rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant, 

652.  Dendroica  aestiva  (Gmel.).  Yellow  Warbler. 
Common  summer  resident. 

654.  Dendroica  caerulescens  (Gmel.).  Black- 
throated  Blue  Warbler.  A  common  spring  and  autumn 
migrant ;  it  is  an  abundant  summer  resident  on  the  slope  of  the 
mountains  just  west  of  Westfield,  in  the  towns  of  Russell  and 


THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND  VICINITY.  35 

Granville,  in  heavy  woods  composed  mostly  of  deciduous  trees, 
chestnut  predominating,  with  an  occasional  tulip,  rock  maple, 
birch  and  oak,  and  a  few  white  pine  and  hemlocks,  always 
with  a  thick  undergrowth  of  mountain  laurel ;  here  I  have 
regularly  found  it  for  the  last  six  summers  the  most  abundant 
warbler  in  that  region,  excepting  perhaps  the  oven  bird. 

655.  Dendroica  coronata  (I/inn.).  Myrtle 
Warbler.  An  abundant  spring  and  autumn  migrant.  A 
person  in  whose  accuracy  in  such  matters  I  have  great  faith, 
informed  me  that  in  the  pine  woods  near  the  main  entrance  to 
Forest  park  in  Springfield,  in  the  summer  of  1900,  for  nearly 
half  an  hour  he  watched  a  pair  feeding  their  newly-fledged 
young.  Except  on  high  elevations  this  is  considerably  south 
of  their  usual  breeding  range. 

657.  Dendroica  maculosa  (Gmel.).  Magnolia 
Warbler.  A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant,  and  I 
presume  it  occasionally  breeds  in  the  west  part  of  Blandford 
and  Chester. 

658.  Dendroica  rara  (Wils.).  Cerulean  Warbler. 
A  very  rare  visitor  from  the  West ;  taken  at  Sufiield  June  12, 
1875  (Bull.  Nutt.  Club  2,  page  21).  W.  A.  Steams  reported 
the  capture  of  three  in  Amherst,  May  19,  1884  ;  all  females, 
he  says,  ' '  they  were  taken  in  a  thicket  back  of  the  college 
buildings  and  near  a  grove  of  mixed  shrubbery." 

659.  Dendroica  pensylvanica  (I<inn.).  Chestnut- 
sided  Warbler.     Abundant  summer  resident. 

660.  Dendroica  castanea  (Wils.)-  Bay-breasted 
Warbler.  Usually  rather  rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant ; 
occasionally  common  ;  in  May,  1900,  for  a  few  days  it  was 
actually  abundant.  They  then  came  into  the  very  center  of 
the  city  of  Springfield  in  great  numbers  ;  nearly  every  tree  in 
and  around  Court  square  contained  one  or  more,  and  at  Tat- 
ham,  in  West  Springfield,  after  an  unusually  cold  night,  I  found 
them  feeding  on  the  ground  in  my  garden  in  a  small   flock. 


36  THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIKI^D   AND   VICINITY. 

According  to  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  in  the  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  of 
Springfield,  one  was  taken  in  Springfield  July  2,  1862,  by  B. 
Hosford. 

661.  Dendroica  striata  (Forst.).  Black -poiviy 
Warblkr.     Common  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

662.  Dendroica  blackbumiae  (Gmel.).  Black- 
BURNiAN  WarblKR.  Rather  common  spring  and  autumn 
migrant;  in  May,  1900,  it  was  abundant.  In  J.  A.  Allen's 
Rarer  Birds  of  Massachusetts  there  is  a  record  of  its  breeding 
in  Holyoke.  I  have  seen  it  in  Chester  in  summer,  and  I  pre- 
sume it  breeds  there,  as  it  does  a  short  distance  west. 

663.  Dendroica  dominica  (I/inn.).  Yellow-throatkd 
WarblkR.  a  very  rare  visitor  from  the  South.  Dr.  David 
Crary  states  that  during  fifteen  years  of  collecting  he  vSecured 
several  specimens  near  Hartford  (see  Merriam's  Birds  of  Con- 
necticut, page  17).  In  May,  1892,  the  late  William  W.  Col- 
burn  observed  one  in  Springfield  about  where  Ridgewood  terrace 
has  since  been  located. 

667.  Dendroica  virens  (Gmel.).  Black-throated 
Green  Warbler.  Abundant  migrant,  and  not  a  very  com- 
mon summer  resident. 

671.  Dendroica  vigorsii  (And.).  Pine  Warbler. 
Common  summer  resident. 

672.  Dendroica  palmarum  (Gmel.).  Palm  Warbler. 
A  rare  autumn  visitor. 

672.  a  Dendroica  palmarum    hypochrysea    Ridgw. 

Yellow  Palm  WARBtER.  Common  spring  and  autumn 
migrant. 

673.  Dendroica  discolor  (Vieill.).  Prairie  Warbler. 
Rather  uncommon  migrant  and  rare  summer  resident.  Dr.  J. 
A.  Allen  stated  that  it  was   common   here  in   May   one   year. 


THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIRI^D   AND   VICINITY.  37 

E.  I.  Shaw  did  not  consider  it  rare  at  Suffield  (see  Merriam's 
Birds  of  Connecticut). 

674.  Seiunis  aurocapillus  (I<inn.).  Oven  Bird. 
Abundant  summer  resident. 

675.  Seiurus  noveboracensis  (Gmel.).  Water 
Thrush.  Common  migrant  in  spring  and  autumn.  Dr.  J.  A. 
Allen  said  that  apparently  a  few  breed  here,  as  he  had  seen 
them  in  each  of  the  summer  months. 

676.  Seiurus  motacilla  (Vieill.).  Louisiana  Water 
Thrush.  A  rare  visitor  from  the  South.  On  the  28th  of 
July,  1895,  one  was  found  dead  on  the  piazza  of  a  house  on 
Crescent  hill  in  Springfield  ;  *  two  instances  are  mentioned  in 
the  "Birds  of  Amherst"  and  in  the  "Rarer  Birds  of  Massachu- 
setts". Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  states  that  he  captured  one  on  Mount 
Tom. 

677.  Geothlypis  formosa  (Wils.)-  Kentucky 
Warbler.  One  was  taken  at  Suffield,  August  16,  1876. 
(See  Merriam's  Birds  of  Connecticut,  page  22.)  This  is  the 
only  instance  known  to  me  of  its  appearance  in  this  vicinity. 

678.  Geothlypis  agilis  (Wils.)-  Connecticut 
Warbler.  A  rare  spring  and  common  autumn  migrant ; 
during  the  latter  season  sometimes  quite  numerous. 

679.  Geothlypis  Philadelphia  (Wils.).  Mourning 
Warbler.  .  Rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

681.  Geothlypis  trichas  (I/inn.).  Maryland  Yel- 
low Throat.     Abundant  summer  resident. 

683.  Icteria  virens  (I/inn.).  Yellow-breasted 
Chat.  Rare  but  regular  summer  resident ;  it  is  more  often 
observed  here  now  than  formerly. 


38  THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD   AND   VICINITY. 

684.  Wilsonia  mitrata  (Gmel.).  Hooded  Warbler. 
Accidental  visitor  ;  it  has  been  taken  by  K.  I.  Shores  at  Suf- 
field.  At  the  lower  end  of  the  Connecticut  valley  it  is  a  com- 
mon summer  resident. 

685.  Wilsonia  pusilla  (Wils.).  Wilson's  Warbler. 
Rare  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

686.  Wilsonia  canadensis  (I/inn.).  Canadian 
Warbler.  A  common  spring  and  autumn  migrant  ;  a  few 
may  breed  in  Blandford  and  Chester,  but  I  have  seen  none  in 
summer  east  of  Becket. 

687.  Setophaga  ruticilla  (I/inn.).  American  Red- 
start.    Common  summer  resident. 

697.  Anthus  pensilvanicus  (I^ath.).  American 
Pipit.     Common  autumn  and  rather  rare  spring  visitor. 

703.  Mimus  polyglottos  (I/inn.).  Mockingbird. 
Rare  summer  resident.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  in  the  catalogue  of 
the  Birds  found  at  Springfield,  states  that  it  had  been  known 
to  breed  in  Springfield  several  times  within  five  years,  and  that 
in  i860  two  pair  nested  here.  In  recent  years  a  pair  spent 
three  successive  summers  in  Tatham  and  bred  there.  I  have 
repeatedly  known  of  the  presence  of  individuals  in  this 
vicinity. 

704.  Galeoscoptes  carolinensis  (I/inn.).  Catbird. 
Common  summer  resident. 

705.  Harporhynchus       rufus       (I/inn.).       Brown 

Thrasher.     Common  summer  resident. 

718.  Thryothorus  ludovicianus  (I/ath.).  Carolina 
Wren.  Accidental  visitor  ;  taken  at  East  Hartford  (see  Auk. 
Vol.  3,  page  489). 

721.    Troglodytes    aedon    Vieill.     House     Wren. 


THE  BIRDS  OF  SPRINGFlETyD  AND   VICINITY.  39 

Rather   uncommon    summer   resident ;    not   as    numerous   as 
formerly. 

722:  Anorthura  hiemalis  (Vieill.).  Winter  Wren. 
Uncommon  spring  and  autumn  visitor,  and  rare  winter  resident. 

724.  Cistothorus  stellaris  (lyicht.).  Short-bilIvEd 
Marsh  Wren.  Rather  rare  summer  resident ;  not  uncom- 
mon in  autumn  ;  in  the  latter  season  it  frequents  the  w^ild  rice 
along  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut  river. 

725.  Cistothorus  palustris  (Wils.)-  Long-bii.i.ed 
Marsh  Wren.     Rather  rare  summer  resident. 

726.  Certhia  familiaris  fusca  Barton.  Brown 
Creeper.  Common  spring  and  autumn  migrant  and  winter 
resident.  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  records  a  nest  being  found  in  Court 
square,  Springfield  ;  that  is  the  only  known  instance  of  its 
breeding  here. 

727.  Sitta  carolinensis  I^ath.  White-breasted 
Nuthatch.  Common  resident ;  more  numerous  during  mi- 
gration. 

728.  Sitta  canadensis  I/inn.  Red-breasted 
Nuthatch.  Rather  common  in  migration,  and  an  irregular 
winter  visitor  ;  some  years  being  entirely  absent,  and  others 
common.  In  the  winter  of  1899  and  1900,  they  were  more 
numerous  than  they  had  been  for  a  great  many  years. 

731.  Parus  bicolor  I/inn.  Tufted  Titmouse.  Ac- 
cidental visitor.  It  has  been  taken  at  Hartford.  (See  Mer- 
riam's  Birds  of  Connecticut,  page  9.) 

735.  Parus  atricapillus  I/inn.  Chickadee.  Com- 
mon resident. 

748.  Regulus  satrapa  I^icht.  Golden-crowned 
Kinglet.  Common  spring  and  autumn  visitor,  and  rare  win- 
ter resident. 


40  THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIEIvD    AND   VICINITY. 

749.  Regulus  calendula  (I/inn.).  Ruby-crownkd 
Kinglet.     Common  spring  and  autumn  migrant. 

751.  Polioptila  caerulea  (I/inn.).  Bluk-gray 
Gnatcatcher.  Accidental  visitor  ;  one  was  taken  at  East 
Hartford,  September  21,  1885  (see  Auk.  Vol.  3,  page  487). 

755.  Hylocichla  mustelinus  Gmel.  Wood  Thrush. 
Common  summer  resident. 

756.  Hylocichla  fuscescens  Steph.  Wilson's 
Thrush.     Common  summer  resident. 

757.  Hylocichla  aliciae  (Baird).  Gray-cheeked 
Thrush.  Rare  late  spring  and  early  autumn  migrant.  I  pre- 
sume the  Bicknell's  Thrush  occasionally  occurs  here  during 
its  migration,  but  I  have  no  proof  of  that  fact. 

758.  ^  Hylocichla  ustulatus  swainsonii  (Cab.). 
Olive-backed  Thrush.  Common  migrant ;  no  doubt  that  it 
occasionally,  but  rarely,  breeds  in  some  of  the  mountain  towns 
in  the  extreme  western  portion  of  Hampshire  county,  as  it 
does  just  beyond  in  Berkshire. 

759.  b  Hylocichla  aonalaschkae  pallasii  (Cab.). 
Hermit  Thrush.  Common  migrant  and  rare  summer  resi- 
dent in  Chester,  Middlefield  and  Worthington,  but  at  no 
season  as  numerous  as  it  was  previous  to  1895,  when  so  many 
were  destroyed  by  the  severe  cold  at  the  South. 

761.  Merula  migratoria  (I/inn.).  American  Robin. 
Abundant  summer  resident,  occasionally  winters. 

766.  Sialia  sialis  (I/inn.).  Bluebird.  Abundant 
summer  resident  ;  I  have  seen  it  here  every  month  in  the  year 
but  January.  Rev.  William  B.  O.  Peabody,  in  the  report  of 
the  Ornithology  of  Massachusetts,  which  he  wrote  at  his  home 
in  Springfield,  spoke  of  the  appearance  of  the  bluebird  in 
January,  1838  ;  whether  he  meant  here  or  elsewhere  in  Massa- 
chusetts, I  cannot  say. 


THE   BIRDS   OF  SPR1NGFIEI.D  AND  VICINITY.  41 

Species  not  included  in  tlie  list  for  reason  of  insufficient  evidence, 
but  of  likely  occurrence  here. 

47.  Icarus  marinus  I/inn.  Great  Black-backed 
Gull.  I  think  I  have  seen  representatives  of  this  species  on 
the  Connecticut  river  here,  but  know  of  none  being  captured. 

58.  Icarus  atricilla  I/inn.  Laughing  Gull.  A  num- 
ber of  years  ago  I  shot  a  gull  which  I  supposed  was  one  of  this 
kind,  but  the  skin  was  not  preserved,  and  now  having  some 
doubts  as  to  its  being  a  correct  identification,  I  leave  it  off  the 
list. 

77.  Hydrochelidon  nigra  surinamensis  (Gmel.). 
Black  Tern.  After  a  severe  gale  the  28th  of  August,  1893, 
a  large  flock  of  terns,  answering  the  description  of  this  kind, 
appeared  near  the  Connecticut  river  in  Longmeadow.  About 
the  same  time  black  terns  were  observed  in  two  places  in  Con- 
necticut.     (See  The  Auk.  Vol.  11,  page  74.) 

160.  Somateria  dresseri  Sharpe.  American  Eider. 
A  few  years  ago  I  observed  on  the  Connecticut  river  in  lyong- 
meadow,  in  company  with  a  flock  of  anas  obscura,  a  duck  nearly 
white,  and  to  all  appearances  an  eider  ;  it  was  about  one  hun- 
dred yards  from  me,  and  I  watched  it  through  field  glasses  for 
a  long  time.  It  finally  separated  from  the  black  ducks  and 
then  disappeared. 

Among  the  other  species  that  are  probably  occasionally  rep- 
resented here  may  be  mentioned  kittiwake,  canvas-back, 
Ipswich  sparrow.  Nelson  sparrow  and  Philadelphia  vireo. 

Introduced    Species. 

Coturnix  coturnix.  European  Quail.  A  little  more 
than  twenty  years  ago,  for  two  or  three  successive  years  many 
of  these  birds  were  liberated  in  the  vicinity  of  Springfield.  I 
hardly  think  any  bred  here,  although  statements  to  the  con- 
trary appeared  in  the  newspapers  of  that  day  ;  some  were  kept 


42  THE   BIRDS   OF  SPRINGFIEI.D   AND   VICINITY. 

in  captivity  from  summer  until  early  the  following  spring, 
when  they  were  let  go  ;  many  stayed  near  here  for  some 
months  after  they  were  released,  but  none  remained  during  the 
following  winter  after  being  let  loose. 

305.  Tympanuchus  americanus  (Reich).  Prairie 
Hkn.  January  28,.  1893,  nearly  ninety  of  this  kind  were 
let  go  in  different  places  about  Springfield,  all  of  which  soon 
disappeared. 

308.  b  Pediocaetes  phasianellus  campestris  Ridgw. 
Prairie  Sharp-tailed  Grouse.  January  14,  1892,  about 
twenty  of  these  birds  were  liberated  near  Springfield,  and 
early  the  following  spring  two  or  three  more  ;  one  at  least 
survived  the  summer  and  was  shot  the  next  autumn  at  East 
Windsor,  some  twenty  miles  from  the  place  where  they  were 
released.  It  was  apparent  from  the  first  that  the  experiment 
of  naturalizing  them  here  would  prove  a  failure,  as  they  were 
altogether  too  tame  for  so  thickly  settled  country  as  this, 
alighting  on  barns  and  approaching  farmhouses  in  the  most 
reckless  manner. 

493.  Sturnus  vulgaris  I<inn.  Starling.  In  the 
spring  of  1897,  about  one  hundred  were  liberated  in  Forest 
park  in  Springfield.  Three  of  these  were  alive  and  well  early 
the  following  spring,  but  since  then  I  have  not  seen  or  heard 
of  any  of  them. 

Passer  domesticus.  English  Sparrow.  I  cannot 
name  the  exact  year  the  mistake  was  made  of  introducing 
English  sparrows  here,  but  think  it  was  either  1866  or  '67.  In 
1868  boxes  were  provided  for  them  in  Court  square,  Spring- 
field. These  birds  are  responsible  in  a  measure  for  the  great 
increase  of  injurious  insects  in  the  cities  and  large  towns,  as 
wherever  the  English  sparrows  are  abundant  there  the  native 
birds,  the  natural  enemies  of  these  iUvSects,  are  rare,  and  in  the 
remote  and  smaller  towns,  where  English  sparrows  are  not 
numerous,  there  the  native  birds  are  plentiful,  and  in  the  lat- 
ter place  any  observer  will  find  less  evidence  of  the  bad  work 


THE   BIRDS  OF  SPRINGFlEIyD  AND  VICINITY.  43 

of  insects  than  in  the  former,  notwithstanding  the  thousands 
of  gallons  of  poison  washes  that  are  poured  over  vegetation  in 
and  around  the  large  centers. 

A  number  of  pheasants  of  different  varieties  have  been 
turned  out  in  this  vicinity  during  the  last  three  years,  and 
a  few  valley  quail  from  California.  The  former  could  un- 
doubtedly be  made  permanent  residents  here  if  protected  in 
fact  as  well  as  in  name. 

Extirpated  Species. 

306.  Tympanuchus  cupido  (I/inn.).  Heath  Hen. 
This  bird  probably  was  not  common  at  the  time  this  valley  was 
first  occupied  by  the  English.  Except  along  the  streams  the 
country  was  heavily  wooded,  mostly  with  massive  white  pines 
and  white  oaks,  while  this  bird  prefers  a  home  among  dry 
tracts  of  scrub  oaks  or  other  small  grow^th.  Few  of  the  old 
people  here  seem  to  have  heard  much  of  the  heath  hen,  but  one 
man  in  West  Springfield  belonging  to  a  family  of  quite  famous 
hunters  in  old  times,  pointed  out  the  spot  in  that  town  where 
his  uncle  had  shot  one,  which  must  have  been  before  1820,  and 
in  this  family  it  was  considered  a  remarkable  occurrence,  as  a 
bird  of  this  kind  was  so  rare.  Nuttall,  writing  in  1832,  spoke 
of  their  being  still  met  with  in  Westford,  Ct. ,  which  is  a  tow^n 
about  thirty  miles  southeast  of  Springfield.  Mr.  S.  T.  Ham- 
mond says  that  a  great  many  years  ago  while  in  Killingly,  Ct. , 
tw^o  old  hunters  pointed  out  the  place  where  they  said  the  last 
heath  hen  in  that  state  was  killed.  In  181 8,  when  the  first 
statute  w^as  passed  in  this  state  protecting  the  so-called  game 
birds,  this  species  was  not  included,  and  not  until  thirteen  years 
later  was  it  made  unlawful  to  kill  a  heath  hen  in  Massachu- 
setts. 

310.  a  Meleagris  gallopavo    fera     (VieilL).    Wild 

Turkey.  Probably  common  at  the  time  the  Puritans  came  to 
this  valley  in  1636,  but  I  fail  to  find  any  reference  to  wild 
turkeys  in  any  of  the  records  or  local  histories  of  the  early 
settlements  here  ;  some  of  the  writers  of  early  times  elsewhere 


44  THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIELD    AND   VICINITY. 

in  the  state  describe  them  as  abundant.  A  few  years  ago  I  in- 
terviewed a  number  of  the  old  residents  of  some  of  the  towns 
in  this  vicinity  to  ascertain  as  nearly  as  possible  the  time  of  the 
disappearance  of  the  wild  turkey,  and  according  to  their  story 
there  seems  to  have  been  in  about  every  place  one  old  turkey 
that  survived  all  others  by  reason  of  its  alertness  ;  organized 
bands  of  hunters  would  go  out  and  try  to  surround  it,  and 
finally  after  many  fruitless  attempts  the  end  would  come  in  its 
capture.  Nearly  all  had  been  exterminated  before  1835  except 
on  Mt.  Tom  range,  where  one  was  taken  in  1847,  the  skin  of 
which  is  now  preserved  in  the  museum  in  Yale  college.  A 
man  who  was  present  at  the  capture  of  this  bird,  says  that 
there  were  others  left  on  the  range  when  this  one  was  killed. 
Mr.  William  Street,  who  lived  on  Mt.  Nonotuck  for  many 
years,  wrote  me  that  he  well  remembers  hearing  wild  turkeys 
near  the  south  end  of  Mt.  Tom  in  1848  or  '49,  and  that  his 
brothers  saw  the  last  one  on  Mt.  Tom  in  the  winter  of  1850-51, 
and  a  short  time  afterwards  it  was  shot  by  a  man  from  Hol- 
yoke.  The  late  Mr.  H.  B.  Lewis  of  Westfield,  stated  that 
in  1852  a  wild  turkey  was  seen  on  this  range,  and  a  party  of 
half  a  dozen  had  an  unsuccessful  hunt  for  it.  Mr.  S.  T.  Ham- 
mond said  that  while  living  in  Holyoke  in  1853  ^^  was  told 
that  a  wild  turkey  had  been  shot  on  Mt.  Tom  the  year  before, 
and  his  informer  believed  others  were  still  there. 


BIBWOGRAPHY. 

1833.  Emmons,  Ebenezkr.  Catalogue  of  the  animals  and 
plants  in  Massachusetts,  published  in  Amherst.  In 
Hitchcock's  Report  Geol.,  Min.,  Bot.  and  Zool.  of 
Massachusetts. 

1840.  Peabody,  W1LI.1AM  B.  O.  A  report  on  the  Orni- 
thology of  Massachusetts  made  to  the  Legislature. 
Mr.  Peabody  was  a  minister  residing  in  Springfield, 
and  frequently  delivered  lectures  on  the  subject  of 
Ornithology.  The  grounds  around  his  house  were 
laid  out  with  a  view  of  attracting  birds. 

1 861.  Wood,  William.  Birds  of  Connecticut;  a  vSeries  of 
articles  written  at  East  Windsor  and  published  in 
the  Hartford  Times. 

1864.  Allen,  J.  A.  Catalogue  of  the  birds  found  at  Spring- 
field, together  with  a  list  of  those  birds  found  in  the 
State  not  observed  at  Springfield.  In  Proc.  Essex 
Inst.  IV. 

1867.  Allen,  J.  A.  Winter  notes  of  an  Ornithologist.  In 
American  Nat.  i,  1867. 

1867.  Allen,  J.  A.  Ornithological  calendar.  In  American 
Nat.  I,  1867. 

1867.  Allen,  J.  A.  The  birds  of  spring.  In  American 
Nat.  I,  1867. 

1876.  Keyes,   F.  H.     May  songsters  at  Springfield,   Massa- 

chusetts,    In  Forest  and  Stream  VI,  June  20,  1876. 

1877.  Merriam,  C.  Hart.     A  review  of   the  birds  of   Con- 

necticut. In  Trans.  Conn.  Acad.  10,  also  separate 
vol..  New  Haven,  1877;  with  many  references  to 
birds  observed  at  East  Windsor  and  Suffield. 


46  THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIEI.D   AND   VICINITY. 

1887.     Clark,    Herbert   h.     The  birds   of    Amherst    and 
vicinity,  pubHshed  in  Amherst,  1887. 

1 89 1.     C01.BURN,  WiLiviAM  W.  AND  R.  O.  Morris.     Birds  of 
the  Connecticut  river  valley  in  Massachusetts. 

1893.     Waters,  Edward  S.     Birds  of  Holyoke. 

1900.     Faxon,  Walter,    and  Ralph  Hoffman.     Birds  of 
Berkshire  county. 


BRRATA. 

Page  12,  No.  197.     First  line.     Substitute  Snowy  for  Snow. 

Page  16,  No.  262.     Tryngites  subruficollis.     Under  this  head,  so  much 

as  refers  to  an  example  in  the  Science  building 

should  be  stricken  from  the  list,  as  this  specimen 

was  not  correctly  identified. 
Page  16,  No.  265.     First  line,    last  word.      Substitute   Hudsonian   for 

Hudsonicus. 
Page  22,  No.  370.     First  line.     Substitute  Scotiaptex  for  Scotiapatex, 
Page  24,  No.  406.     First  line.     Substitute  Melanerpes  for  Malanerpes. 
Page  30,  No.  583.     F'irst  line.     Substitute  lincolnii  for  lincolni. 


INDBX. 


ACANTHis  linaria,  28. 
Accipiter  atricapillus,  18. 

cooperii,  18. 

velox,  18. 
Actitis  macularia,  16. 
JSgialitis  meloda,  17. 

semipalinata,  17. 

vocifera,  16. 
Agelaius  phoeniceus,  26. 
Aix  sponsa,  10. 
Alle  alle,  7. 
Ammodramus  henslowii,  29. 

sandwichensis  savanna,  28. 

savannarum  passerinus,  29. 
Ampelis  cedrorum,  31. 

garrulus,  31. 
Anas  boschas,  8. 

obscura,  9. 
x\northura  hiemalis,  39. 
Anthus  pensilvanicus,  38. 
Antrostonius  vociferus,  24. 
Aquila  chrysaGtos,  19. 
Archibuteo  lagopus  sancti-johan- 

nis,  19. 
Ardea  candidissima,  12. 

egretta,  12. 

herodias,  12. 

viresceus,  13. 
Ardetta  exilis,  12. 
Arenaria  interpres,  17. 
Asio  accipitrinus,  21. 

wilsonianus.  21. 
Astragalinus  tristis,  28. 
Aythya  affinis,  10. 

americana,  10. 

collaris,  10. 

marila,  10. 


Baldpate,  9. 

Bartramia  longicauda,  16. 

Bittern,  American,  12. 

Least,  12. 
Blackbird,  Red-winged,  26. 

Rusty,  27. 
Bluebird,  40.  «• 

Bobolink,  26. 
Bob-white,  17. 
Bonasa  umbellus,  17. 
Botaurus  lentiginosus,  12. 
Brant,  12. 


Branta  bernicla,  12. 

canadensis,  12. 
Bubo  virginianus,  22. 
Buffle-head,  11. 
Bunting,  Indigo,  30. 
Buteo  borealis,  19. 

latissimus,  19. 

lineatus,  19. 


Cai^carius  lapponicus,  28. 
Calidris  arenaria,  15. 
Cardinal,  30. 
Cardinalis  cardinalis,  30. 
Carpodacus  purpureus,  27. 
Catbird,  38. 
Cathartes  aura,  18. 
Ceophloeus  pileatusabieticola,  23. 
Certhia  familiaris  fusca,  39. 
Ceryle  alcyon,  23. 
ChcEtura  pelagica,  24. 
Charadrius  dominicus,  16. 
Charitonetta  albeola,  11. 
Chat,  Yellow-breasted,  37. 
Chaulelasmus  strepera,  9. 
Chelidon  erythrogastra,  31. 
Chen  hyperborea  nivalis,  11. 
Chickadee,  39. 
Chordeiles  virginianus,  24. 
Circus  hudsonius,  18. 
Cistothorus  palustris,  39. 

stellaris,  39. 
Clangula  clangula  americana,  11. 
Clivicola  riparia,  31. 
Coccothraustes  vespertinus,  27. 
Coccyzus  americanus,  23. 

erythrophthalmus,  23. 
Colaptes  auratus  lutens,  24. 
Colinus  virginianus,  17. 
Colymbus  auritus,6. 

holboellii,  6. 
Compsothlypis  americana  usneae, 

34. 
Contopus  borealis,  25. 

virens,  25. 
Coot,  American,  14. 
Cormorant,  Double-crested,  8. 
Corvus  americanus,  26. 

corax  principalis,  26. 

ossifragus,  26. 
Coturni-x  coturnix,  41. 


50 


THK   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFIEI.D   AND  VICINITY. 


Cowbird,  26. 
Creeper,  Brown,  39. 
Crossbill,  American,  28. 

White-winged,  28. 
Crow,  American,  26. 

Fish,  26. 
Crymophilus  fulicarius,  14. 
Cuckoo,  Black-billed,  23. 

Yellow-billed,  23. 
Curlew,  Hudsonian,  16. 
Cyanocitta  cristata,  26. 
Cyanospiza  cyauea,  30. 


Fai^co  columbarius,  20. 

peregrinus  anatum,  20. 

rusticolus  gyrfalco,  20. 

sparverius,  20. 
Finch,  Purple,  27. 
Flicker,  Northern,  24. 
Flycatcher,  Alder,  25. 

Crested,  24. 

Green-crested,  25. 

Least,  25. 

Olive-sided,  25. 

Yellow-bellied,  25. 
Fulica  americana,  14. 


DAF11.A  acuta,  10. 
Dendroica  aestiva,  34. 

blackburnise,  36. 

caerulescens,  34. 

castanea,  35. 

coronata,  35. 

discolor,  36. 
Dendroica  dominica,  36. 

maculosa,  35. 

palmarum,  36. 

palmarum  hypochrysea,  36. 

pensylvanica,  35. 

rara,  35. 

striata,  36. 

tigrina,  34. 

vigorsii,  36. 

virens,  36. 
Dickcissel,  30. 
Dolichonyx  oryzivorus,  26. 
Dove,  Mourning,  18. 
Dovekie,  7. 
Dowitcher,  14. 
Dryobates  pubescens  medianus, 

23- 
villosus,  23. 
Duck,  American  Scaup,  10. 
Black,  9. 

Lesser  Scaup,  10. 
Ring-necked,  10. 
Ruddy,  II. 
Wood,  10. 


GADWAI.L,  9. 

Galeoscoptes  carolinensis,  38. 
Gallinago  delicata,  14. 
Gallinula  galeata,  13. 
Gallinule,  Florida,  13. 
Gavia  imber,  6. 

lumme,  6. 
Geothlypis  agilis,  37. 

formosa,  37. 

Philadelphia,  37. 

trichas,  37, 
Gnatcatcher,  Blue-gray,  40. 
Golden-eye,  American,  11. 
Goldfinch,  American,  28. 
Goose,  Canada,  12. 

Greater  Snow,  11. 
Goshawk,  American,  18. 
Grackle,  Bronzed,  27. 
Grebe,  Holboell's,  6. 

Horned,  6. 

Pied-billed,  6. 
Grosbeak,  Evening,  27, 

Pine,  27. 

Rose-breasted,  30. 
Grouse,  Prairie  Sharp-tailed,  42, 

Ruffed,  17. 
Gull,  Bonaparte's,  7. 

Great  Black-backed,  41. 

Herring,  7. 

Laughing,  41. 
Gyrfalcon,  20. 


EAGI.E,  Bald,  19. 

Golden,  19. 
Ectopistes  migratorius,  17. 
Egret,  American,  12. 
Eider.  American,  41. 
Empidonax  flaviventris,  25. 

minimus,  25. 

traillii  alnorum,  25. 

virescens,  25. 
Erismatura  jamaicensis,  11: 


Hai^i^ETus  leucocephalus,  19. 
Harelda  hyemalis,  11. 
Harporhynchus  rufus,  38. 
Hawk,  American  Rough-legged, 

19- 
American  Sparrow,  20. 
Broad-winged,  19. 
Cooper's,  18. 
Duck,  20. 
Marsh,  18. 


INDEX. 


51 


Hawk,  Pigeon,  20. 

Red-shouldered,  19. 

Red-tailed,  19. 

Sharp-shinned,  18. 
Helminthophila  celata,  34. 

chrysoptera,  33. 

leucobronchialis,  33. 

peregrina,  34. 

pinus,  33. 

rubricapilla,  34. 
Helmitherus  vermivorus,  33. 
Helodromas  solitarius,  15. 
Hen,  Heath,  43. 

Prairie,  42. 
Heron,  Black-crowned  Night,  13. 

Great  Blue,  12. 

Green,  13. 

Snowy,  12. 
Hummingbird,  Ruby-throated,  24. 
Hydrochelidou  nigra  surinamen- 

sis,  41. 
Hylocichla  alicise,  40. 

aonalaschkse  pallasii,  40. 

fuscescens,  40. 

mustelinus,  40. 

ustulatus  swainsonii,  40. 

ICTKRIA  virens,  37. 
Icterus  galbula,  27. 
spurius,  27. 


Jay,  Blue,  26. 
Junco  hyemalis,  29. 
Junco,  Slate-colored,  29. 

KiivivDEER,  16. 
Kingbird,  24. 
Kingfisher,  Belted,  23. 
Kinglet,  Golden-crowned,  39. 

Ruby-crowned,  40. 
Knot,  14. 

lyANius  borealis,  32. 

ludovicianus  excubitorides, 
32. 
Lark,  Horned,  25. 

Prairie  Horned,  25. 
Larus  argentatus,  7. 

atricilla,  41. 

marinus,  41. 

Philadelphia,  7. 
Longspur,  Lapland,  28. 
Loon,  6. 

Red-throated,  6. 
Lophodytes  cucullatus,  8. 


Loxia  curvirostra  minor,  28. 
leucoptera,  28. 

Macrorhamphus  griseus,  14. 
Mallard,  8. 
Mareca  americana,  9. 
Martin,  Purple,  30. 
Meadowlark,  26. 
Megascops  asio,  22. 
Melanerpes  carolinus,  24. 

erythrocephalus,  24. 
Meleagris  gallopavo  fera,  43. 
Melospiza  fasciata,  29. 

georgiana,  30. 

lincolnii,  30. 
Merganser,  American,  8- 

Hooded,  8. 

Red-breasted,  8. 
Merganser  americanus,  8. 

serrator,  8. 
Merula  migratoria,  40. 
Mimus  polyglottos,  38. 
Mniotilta  varia,  33. 
Mockingbird,  38. 
Molothrus  ater,  26. 
Murre,  Briinnich's,  6. 
Myiarchus  crinitus,  24. 


Nettion  carolinensis,  9. 
Nighthawk,  24. 
Numenius  hudsonicus,  16. 
Nuthatch,  Red-breasted,  39. 

White-breasted,  39. 
Nyctala  acadica,  22. 

tengmalmi  richardsoni,  22. 
Nyctea  nyctea,  22. 
Nycticorax  nycticorax  nsevius,  13. 


Oceanodroma  leucorhoa,  7. 
Oidemia  deglandi,  11. 

perspicillata,  11. 
Old-squaw,  11. 
Oriole,  Baltimore,  27. 

Orchard,  27. 
Osprey,  American,  21. 
Otocoris  alpestris,  25. 

alpestris  praticola,  25. 
Oven-bird,  37. 
Owl,  American  Barn,  21. 

American  Hawk,  22. 

American  Long-eared,  21. 

Barred,  21. 

Great  Gray,  22. 

Great  Horned,  22. 

Richardson's,  22. 


52 


THE   BIRDS   OF   SPRINGFlEIyD    AND   VICINITY. 


Owl,  Saw-whet,  22. 
Screech,  22. 
Short-eared,  21. 
Snowy,  22. 

Pandion  haliac^tus  caroliuensis, 

21. 
Parus  atricapillus,  39. 

bicolor,  39. 
Passer  domesticus,  42. 
Passerella  iliaca,  30. 
Passerina  nivalis,  28. 
Pediocsetes  phasianellus  cam- 

pestris,  42, 
Petrel,  Leach's,  7. 
Petrochelidon  lunifrons,  31. 
Pewee,  Wood,  25. 
Phalacrocorax  dilophus,  8. 
Phalarope,  Northern,  14. 

Red,  14. 
Phalaropus  lobatus,  14. 
Philohela  minor,  14. 
Phoebe,  25. 
Picoides  arcticus,  23. 
Pigeon,  Passenger,  17. 
Pinicola  enucleator  canadensis, 

27. 
Pintail,   10. 

Pipilo  erythrophthalmus,  30. 
Pipit,  American,  38. 
Piranga  erythromelas,  30. 
Plover,  American  Golden,  16. 

Black-bellied,  j6. 

Piping,  17. 

Semipalmated,  17. 
Podilymbus  podiceps,  6, 
Polioptila  caerulea,  40. 
Poocaetes  gramineus,  28. 
Porzana  Carolina,  13. 

jamaicensis,  13. 

noveboracensis,   13. 
Progne  subis,  30- 
Protonotaria  citrea,  33. 

QuAiiv,  European,  41. 
Querquedula  discors,  9. 
Quiscalus  quiscula  seneus,  27. 

Rail,  Black,  13. 

Clapper,  13. 

King,  13. 

Virginia,  13. 

Yellow,  13. 
Rallus  crepitans,  13. 

elegans,  13. 

virginianus,  13. 


Raven,  Northern,  26. 
Redhead,  10. 
Redpoll,  28. 
Redstart,  American,  38. 
Regulus  calendula,  40. 

satrapa,  39. 
Robin,  American,  40. 
Rynchops  nigra,  7. 

Sandf,ri,ing,  15. 
Sandpiper,  Bartramian,  16, 

Buff-breasted,  16, 

Least,  15. 

Pectoral,  15. 

Purple,  15. 

Red-backed,  15. 

Solitary,  15. 

Spotted,  16. 

White-rumped,  15. 
Sapsucker,  Yellow-bellied,  23. 
Sayornis  phoebe,  25. 
Scolecophagus  carolinus,  27. 
Scoter,  Surf,  11. 

White-winged,  11. 
Scotiaptex  cinerea,  22. 
Seiurus  aurocapillus,  37. 

motacilla,  37. 

noveboracensis,  37. 
Setophaga  ruticilla,  38. 
Shoveller,  10. 
Shrike,  Northern,  32. 

White-rumped,  32. 
Sialia  sialis,  40. 
Siskin,  Pine,  28, 
Sitta  canadensis,  39. 

caroliuensis,  39. 
Skimmer,  Black,  7. 
Snipe,  Wilson's,  14. 
Snowflake,  28. 
Somateria  dresseri,  41. 
Sora,  13. 
Sparrow,  Chipping,  29. 

English,  42. 

Field,  29. 

Fox,  30. 

Grasshopper,  29. 

Henslow's,  29. 

Lincoln's,  30. 

Savanna,  28. 

Song,  29. 

Swamp,  30. 

Tree,  29, 

Vesper,  28. 

White-crowned,  29. 

White-throated,  29. 
Spatula  clypeata,  10. 
Sphyrapicus  varius,  23. 


INDBX. 


53 


Spinus  pinus,  28. 
Spiza  americana,  30. 
Spizella  monticola,  29. 

pusilla,  29. 

socialis,  29. 
Squatarola  squatarola,  16. 
Starling,  42. 

Stelgidopteryx  serripennis,  31. 
Sterna  hirundo,  7. 
Strix  pratincola,  21. 
Sturnella  magna,  26. 
Sturnus  vulgaris,  42. 
Surnia  ulula  caparoch,  22. 
Swallow,  Bank,  31. 

Barn,  31. 

Cliff,  31. 

Rough-winged,  31. 

Tree,  31. 
Swift,  Chimney,  24. 
Symphemia  semipalmata,  16. 
Syrnium  nebulosum,  21. 


Tachycineta  bicolor,  31. 
Tauager,  Scarlet,  30. 
Teal,  Blue-winged,  9. 

Green-winged,  9. 
Tern,  Black,  41. 

Common,  7. 
Thrasher,  Brown,  38. 
Thrush,  Gray-cheeked,  40. 

Hermit,  40. 

Olive-backed,  40. 

Wilson's,  40, 

Wood,  40. 
Thryothorus  ludovicianus,  38, 
Titmouse,  Tufted,  39. 
Totanus  flavipes,  15. 

melanoleucus,  15. 
Towhee,  30. 
Tringa  alpina  pacifica,  15. 

canutus,  14. 

fuscicollis,  15. 

maculata,  15. 

maritima,   15. 

minutilla,  15. 
Trochilus  colubris,  24, 
Troglodytes  a6don,  38. 
Tryngites  subruficoUis,  16. 
Turkey,  Wild,  43. 
Turnstone,  17. 
Tympanuchus  americanus,  42. 

cupido,  43. 
Tyrannus  tyrannus,  24. 


Uria  lomvia,  6. 


ViREO,  Blue-headed,  32. 

Red-eyed,  32. 

Warbling,  32. 

White-eyed,  32. 

Yellow-throated,  32. 
Vireo  flavifrons,  32. 

gilvus,  32. 

noveboracensis,  32. 

olivaceus,  32. 

solitarius,  32. 
Vulture,  Turkey,  18. 


Warbler,  Bay-breasted,  35. 

Black  and  White,  33. 

Blackburnian,  36. 

Black-poll,  36. 

Black-throated  Blue,  34. 

Black-throated  Green,  36. 

Blue-winged,  33. 

Brewster's,  33. 

Canadian,  38. 

Cape  May,  34. 

Cerulean,  35. 

Chestnut-sided,  35. 

Connecticut,  37. 

Golden-winged,  33. 

Hooded,  38. 

Kentucky,  37. 

Magnolia,  35. 

Mourning,  37. 

Myrtle,  35. 

Nashville,  34. 

Northern  Parula,  34. 

Orange-crowned,  34. 

Palm,  36. 

Pine,  36. 

Prairie,  36. 

Prothonotary,  33. 

Tennessee,  34. 

Wilson's,  38. 

Worm-eating,  33. 

Yellow,  34. 

Yellow  Palm,  36. 

Yellow-throated,  36. 
Water-Thrush,  37. 

Louisiana,  37. 
Waxwing.  Bohemian,  31. 

Cedar,  31. 
Whip-poor-will,  24. 
Willet,  16. 
Wilsonia  canadensis,  38. 

mitrata,  38. 

pusilla,  38. 
Woodcock,  American,  14. 
Woodpecker,  Arctic  Three-toed, 
23. 


54 


THE   BIRDS   OF  SPRINGFIKI/D   AND  VICINITY. 


Woodpecker,  Downy,  23. 

Hairy,  23. 

Northern  Pileated,  23, 

Red-bellied,  24. 

Red-headed,  24. 
Wren,  Carolina,  38. 

House,  38. 

Long-billed  Marsh,  39. 

Short-billed  Marsh,  39. 


Wren,  Winter,  39. 

YEI.1.OW-1.EGS,  15. 
Greater,  15. 
Yellow-throat,  Maryland,  37. 

ZameIvOdia  ludoviciana,  30. 
Zenaidura  macroura,  18. 
Zonotrichia  albicollis,  29. 
leucophrys,  29. 


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